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Hariharan R, Cameron J, Menon K, Mesinovic J, Jansons P, Scott D, Lu ZX, de Courten M, Feehan J, de Courten B. Carnosine supplementation improves glucose control in adults with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2024; 34:485-496. [PMID: 38172006 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2023.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-glycating effects, with preliminary evidence suggesting it may improve important chronic disease risk factors in adults with cardiometabolic conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS In this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Secondary outcomes included body composition analysis by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), calf muscle density by pQCT, and anthropometry. Carnosine supplementation decreased blood glucose at 90 min (-1.31 mmol/L; p = 0.02) and 120 min (-1.60 mmol/L, p = 0.02) and total glucose area under the curve (-3.30 mmol/L; p = 0.04) following an oral glucose tolerance test. There were no additional changes in secondary outcomes. The carnosine group results remained significant before and after adjustment for age, sex, and change in weight (all>0.05), and in further sensitivity analyses accounting for missing data. There were no significant changes in insulin levels. CONCLUSION This study provides preliminary support for larger trials evaluating carnosine as a potential treatment for prediabetes and the initial stages of T2DM. Likely mechanisms may include changes to hepatic glucose output explaining the observed reduction in blood glucose without changes in insulin secretion following carnosine supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Hariharan
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia
| | - James Cameron
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia; Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre, Monash Heart, Monash Health, Clayton VIC, Australia
| | - Kirthi Menon
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia
| | - Jakub Mesinovic
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia; Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Jansons
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia; Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong VIC, Australia
| | - David Scott
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia; Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong VIC, Australia
| | - Zhong X Lu
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia; Monash Health Pathology, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Maximilian de Courten
- Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy, Victoria University, Melbourne VIC, Australia; Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
| | - Jack Feehan
- Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy, Victoria University, Melbourne VIC, Australia; Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
| | - Barbora de Courten
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT, Bundoora, Australia.
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Diniz F, Parmeggiani B, Brandão G, Ferreira BK, Teixeira MF, Streck EL, Olivera-Bravo S, Barbeito LH, Schuck PF, de Melo Reis RA, Ferreira GC. Dual Effect of Carnosine on ROS Formation in Rat Cultured Cortical Astrocytes. Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03880-0. [PMID: 38151612 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03880-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Carnosine is composed of β-alanine and L-histidine and is considered to be an important neuroprotective agent with antioxidant, metal chelating, and antisenescence properties. However, children with serum carnosinase deficiency present increased circulating carnosine and severe neurological symptoms. We here investigated the in vitro effects of carnosine on redox and mitochondrial parameters in cultured cortical astrocytes from neonatal rats. Carnosine did not alter mitochondrial content or mitochondrial membrane potential. On the other hand, carnosine increased mitochondrial superoxide anion formation, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA), indicating that carnosine per se acts as a pro-oxidant agent. Nonetheless, carnosine prevented DCF-DA oxidation induced by H2O2 in cultured cortical astrocytes. Since alterations on mitochondrial membrane potential are not likely to be involved in these effects of carnosine, the involvement of N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the pro-oxidant actions of carnosine was investigated. MK-801, an antagonist of NMDA receptors, prevented DCF-DA oxidation induced by carnosine in cultured cortical astrocytes. Astrocyte reactivity induced by carnosine was also prevented by the coincubation with MK-801. The present study shows for the very first time the pro-oxidant effects of carnosine per se in astrocytes. The data raise awareness on the importance of a better understanding of the biological actions of carnosine, a nutraceutical otherwise widely reported as devoid of side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Diniz
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas:Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Section of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Belisa Parmeggiani
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Brandão
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruna Klippel Ferreira
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monique Fonseca Teixeira
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Emilio Luiz Streck
- Laboratório de Doenças Neurometabólicas, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, Brazil
| | | | | | - Patricia Fernanda Schuck
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Augusto de Melo Reis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas:Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Costa Ferreira
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas:Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Caruso G, Di Pietro L, Cardaci V, Maugeri S, Caraci F. The therapeutic potential of carnosine: Focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2023.100153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
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Anapindi KDB, Romanova EV, Checco JW, Sweedler JV. Mass Spectrometry Approaches Empowering Neuropeptide Discovery and Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:662-679. [PMID: 35710134 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of insulin in the early 1900s ushered in the era of research related to peptides acting as hormones and neuromodulators, among other regulatory roles. These essential gene products are found in all organisms, from the most primitive to the most evolved, and carry important biologic information that coordinates complex physiology and behavior; their misregulation has been implicated in a variety of diseases. The evolutionary origins of at least 30 neuropeptide signaling systems have been traced to the common ancestor of protostomes and deuterostomes. With the use of relevant animal models and modern technologies, we can gain mechanistic insight into orthologous and paralogous endogenous peptides and translate that knowledge into medically relevant insights and new treatments. Groundbreaking advances in medicine and basic science influence how signaling peptides are defined today. The precise mechanistic pathways for over 100 endogenous peptides in mammals are now known and have laid the foundation for multiple drug development pipelines. Peptide biologics have become valuable drugs due to their unique specificity and biologic activity, lack of toxic metabolites, and minimal undesirable interactions. This review outlines modern technologies that enable neuropeptide discovery and characterization, and highlights lessons from nature made possible by neuropeptide research in relevant animal models that is being adopted by the pharmaceutical industry. We conclude with a brief overview of approaches/strategies for effective development of peptides as drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neuropeptides, an important class of cell-cell signaling molecules, are involved in maintaining a range of physiological functions. Since the discovery of insulin's activity, over 100 bioactive peptides and peptide analogs have been used as therapeutics. Because these are complex molecules not easily predicted from a genome and their activity can change with subtle chemical modifications, mass spectrometry (MS) has significantly empowered peptide discovery and characterization. This review highlights contributions of MS-based research towards the development of therapeutic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna D B Anapindi
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Elena V Romanova
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - James W Checco
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
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Diniz FC, Hipkiss AR, Ferreira GC. The Potential Use of Carnosine in Diabetes and Other Afflictions Reported in Long COVID Patients. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:898735. [PMID: 35812220 PMCID: PMC9257001 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.898735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Carnosine is a dipeptide expressed in both the central nervous system and periphery. Several biological functions have been attributed to carnosine, including as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, and as a modulator of mitochondrial metabolism. Some of these mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The clinical manifestation and recovery time for COVID-19 are variable. Some patients are severely affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection and may experience respiratory failure, thromboembolic disease, neurological symptoms, kidney damage, acute pancreatitis, and even death. COVID-19 patients with comorbidities, including diabetes, are at higher risk of death. Mechanisms underlying the dysfunction of the afflicted organs in COVID-19 patients have been discussed, the most common being the so-called cytokine storm. Given the biological effects attributed to carnosine, adjuvant therapy with this dipeptide could be considered as supportive treatment in patients with either COVID-19 or long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Cardoso Diniz
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Programa de Bioquímica e Biofísica Celular, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Alan Roger Hipkiss
- Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gustavo Costa Ferreira
- Laboratório de Erros Inatos do Metabolismo, Programa de Bioquímica e Biofísica Celular, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química Biológica, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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