Balenine vs. Carnosine & Anserine: Which Lasts Longer?
Quick Summary: Research suggests that balenine, a compound similar to carnosine and anserine, stays in your body longer. This means it might be a more effective supplement, but more research is needed to confirm its benefits.
What The Research Found
This study looked at how long balenine, carnosine, and anserine last in the body. Researchers found that balenine sticks around much longer than the other two. This is because balenine is more resistant to being broken down by an enzyme in the body. The study also showed that taking higher doses of balenine led to higher levels in the blood.
Study Details
- Who was studied: 6 healthy adults.
- How long: The study measured how long the compounds lasted in the blood after a single dose.
- What they took: Participants took single doses of balenine by mouth. The doses were 1, 4, and 10 mg per kilogram of body weight.
What This Means For You
Balenine's longer lifespan in the body could mean it's a more effective supplement than carnosine or anserine. This is because it has more time to work. However, this study only looked at how long balenine stays in the body, not whether it actually provides any health benefits. More research is needed to see if balenine can help with things like muscle fatigue or other health issues.
Study Limitations
- Small Study Size: Only 6 people were in the study, so the results might not apply to everyone.
- Single Doses: The study only looked at what happened after one dose, not after taking balenine regularly.
- No Health Benefits Measured: The study didn't check if balenine actually improved anything, like muscle performance.
- Individual Differences: The study didn't account for how much of the enzyme that breaks down balenine people have, which could affect how well it works.
Technical Analysis Details
Key Findings
Balenine demonstrated significantly greater resistance to serum carnosinase (CN1) hydrolysis compared to carnosine and anserine. Its half-life in human plasma (34.9 ± 14.6 min) was 29.1 times longer than carnosine (1.20 ± 0.36 min; p=0.0044) and 16.3 times longer than anserine (2.14 ± 0.58 min; p=0.0044). Acute oral supplementation showed dose-dependent bioavailability, with 10 mg/kg achieving a peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of 28 µM—4 times higher than 4 mg/kg (p=0.0034) and 18 times higher than 1 mg/kg (p=0.0017). CN1 enzyme activity strongly negatively correlated with balenine half-life (ρ=-0.829; p=0.0583), Cmax (r=-0.938; p=0.0372), and area under the curve (r=-0.825; p=0.0433), confirming CN1 as the primary degradation factor.
Study Design
This 2023 observational study comprised two experiments: (1) In vitro degradation analysis where carnosine, anserine, and balenine were incubated in human plasma to measure hydrolysis rates; (2) In vivo acute supplementation trial with 6 healthy human volunteers receiving single oral doses of balenine (1, 4, and 10 mg/kg body weight) in a non-randomized sequence. Plasma concentrations were monitored over time to assess pharmacokinetics. No demographic details (e.g., age, sex) of participants were provided in the summary.
Dosage & Administration
Balenine was administered orally in three escalating single doses: 1 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg body weight. Doses were tested sequentially in the same 6 participants, with plasma sampling conducted to measure time-concentration profiles after each dose.
Results & Efficacy
Balenine exhibited superior pharmacokinetics versus comparators:
- Half-life: 34.9 ± 14.6 min (balenine) vs. 1.20 ± 0.36 min (carnosine; 29.1× longer, p=0.0044) and 2.14 ± 0.58 min (anserine; 16.3× longer, p=0.0044).
- Dose response: 10 mg/kg yielded Cmax=28 µM, significantly exceeding 4 mg/kg (4× higher; p=0.0034) and 1 mg/kg (18× higher; p=0.0017).
- CN1 dependency: Strong inverse correlations confirmed enzyme activity dictates balenine clearance (Cmax: r=-0.938, p=0.0372; AUC: r=-0.825, p=0.0433).
Limitations
The study had a very small sample size (n=6), limiting statistical power and generalizability. Participants received doses sequentially without washout period specification, risking carryover effects. Only acute effects were measured; chronic supplementation impacts remain unknown. Crucially, functional outcomes (e.g., antioxidant, ergogenic effects) were not assessed—only pharmacokinetics. CN1 activity variability among individuals was noted but not controlled for in dosing.
Clinical Relevance
Balenine’s resistance to CN1 hydrolysis suggests it may achieve higher systemic concentrations than carnosine or anserine when supplemented orally, potentially making it a more effective nutraceutical for conditions requiring systemic carnosine-like activity (e.g., muscle fatigue, glycation mitigation). However, users should note that this study only confirms superior bioavailability—not actual health benefits. Doses of 10 mg/kg (≈700 mg for 70 kg adult) produced measurable plasma levels, but optimal dosing for efficacy requires further research. Those with low CN1 activity may experience significantly higher balenine exposure.
Original Study Reference
Acute balenine supplementation in humans as a natural carnosinase-resistant alternative to carnosine.
Source: PubMed
Published: 2023
📄 Read Full Study (PMID: 37081019)