Research

What is carnosine?

Carnosine is a peptide that is found in the cells of almost all organisms and serves as one of the most important molecules in mammalian metabolism. Carnosine functions as the main intracellular buffer to maintain pH during exercise and also displays robust antioxidant and antiglycation properties. Due to the important nature of this molecule in metabolism, performance, and aging, carnosine has been widely studied for its ability to improve the overall health and physical work capacity of mammals.


Fast Twitch Muscles

Carnosine is naturally found in high concentrations in the skeletal muscles, primarily the type IIx muscle fibers. These are the "fast-twitch" muscle fibers used in explosive movements like weight training and sprinting. Carnosine levels have been found in higher concentrations in equine athletes whose performance demands serious anaerobic output.

Reduces Acid

During high-intensity exercise, hydrogen ions (H+) are produced and accumulate as part of the process of energy release.

As the pH in the muscles decreases, so does performance, due to lactic acid buildup. The same goes for the equine athlete. These unbuffered H+ protons pose complications for athletes.

Carnosine may well be the definitive H+ buffering agent. Carnosine helps to put out the burning fire in the equine athlete’s muscles that is felt before reaching failure and supports muscular performance.

Improves Recovery and Health

Increasing carnosine can buffer against acidosis, improve recovery, and help reduce inflammation. The end result is a healthier, happier, more athletic horse.


Carnosine in Recovery

  1. Improved Functional Recovery of Ischemic Rat Hearts due to Singlet Oxygen Scavengers Histidine and Carnosine
  2. Carnosine suppresses oxygen-glucose deprivation/recovery-induced proliferation and migration of reactive astrocytes of rats in vitro
  3. Carnosine improves functional recovery and structural regeneration after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats
  4. Attenuation of eccentric exercise-induced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), muscle damage and oxidative stress by β-alanine (βA) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA)
  5. Twenty-four Weeks of β-Alanine Supplementation on Carnosine Content, Related Genes, and Exercise


Carnosine as an Antioxidant

  1. Antioxidant activity of carnosine, homocarnosine, and anserine present in muscle and brain
  2. Effects of Resting Muscle Carnosine Content on the Intramuscular Antioxidant Response to a Bout of Resistance Exercise
  3. Carnosine and Its (S)-Trolox™ Derivative Protect Animals Against Oxidative Stress
  4. In Vitro and in Vivo Inhibition of Muscle Lipid and Protein Oxidation by Carnosine
  5. l-carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) and carcinine (β-alanylhistamine) act as natural antioxidants with hydroxyl-radical-scavenging and lipid-peroxidase activities
  6. Antioxidant Activities of Carnosine, Anserine, Some Free
  7. Amino Acids and Their Combination
  8. Antioxidant activity of l-carnosine, a natural histidine-containing dipeptide in crystalline lens
  9. Therapeutic effect of carnosine in rat model of experimental liver carcinogenesis
  10. Carnosine and Histidine Supplementation Blunt Lead-Induced Reproductive Toxicity through Antioxidative and Mitochondria-Dependent Mechanisms
  11. The Antioxidant Effect of Beta-Alanine or Carnosine Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  12. Chelating effects of carnosine in ameliorating nickel-induced nephrotoxicity in rats


Carnosine as an Anti-Inflammatory

  1. Combination of carnosine and asiatic acid provided greater anti-inflammatory protection for HUVE cells and diabetic mice than individual treatments of carnosine or asiatic acid alone
  2. Carnosine Prevents Aβ-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Microglial Cells: A Key Role of TGF-β1
  3. Carnosine and Diabetic Nephropathy
  4. Unfolding the mechanism of cisplatin induced pathophysiology in spleen and its amelioration by carnosine
  5. Prophylactic administration of carnosine and melatonin abates the incidence of apoptosis, inflammation, and DNA damage induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles in rat livers
  6. The Protective Effect of New Carnosine-Hyaluronic Acid Conjugate on the Inflammation and Cartilage Degradation in the Experimental Model of Osteoarthritis

 

Carnosine in Exercise Physiology:

  1. Important role of muscle carnosine in rowing performance
  2. Effects of Beta-Alanine on Muscle Carnosine and Exercise Performance: A Review of the Current Literature
  3. Evaluation of the Efficacy of Carnosine Complex as an Ergogenic Aid
  4. β-Alanine supplementation increased physical performance and improved executive function following endurance exercise in middle aged individuals
  5. Influence of oral beta-alanine and L-histidine supplementation on the carnosine content of the gluteus medius
  6. Plasma carnosine concentration: diurnal variation and effects of age, exercise and muscle damage
  7. Carnosine metabolism and function in the thoroughbred horse
  8. Effect of breed of horse on muscle carnosine concentration.

 





Rigorous Blood Testing

Velocity currently complies with all USEF Guidelines & Rules for Drugs and Medications and the FEI Clean Sport Prohibited Substances Database. In total, four blood samples (baseline, 90 minutes, 24 hours, and 48 hours post second application) were obtained by an independent, third-party equine sports medicine practice. VelocityTM conveyed no risk of resulting in a positive blood test.