Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2025
09:39
Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation
Published on: June 26, 2013
27.0K
Histidine-containing dipeptide supplementation improves delayed recall: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Simon M Bell1, Rohit Hariharan2, Peter J Laud3
1Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Nutrition Reviews
|November 28, 2023
Summary
Histidine-containing dipeptide (HCD) supplementation significantly improved delayed recall performance, a key indicator in early Alzheimer's disease. Further research is needed to confirm HCD's cognitive stabilizing effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Gerontology
Background:
- Histidine-containing dipeptides (HCDs) like carnosine are present in human tissues, including the brain.
- Previous studies suggest exogenous carnosine may enhance cognitive function, but results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs evaluating HCD supplementation's impact on human cognitive performance.
- To assess the potential of HCDs as cognitive stabilizers.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive search of multiple databases (OVID Medline, Embase, etc.) was performed for RCTs of HCDs published up to June 2022.
- Ten eligible RCTs involving HCD supplementation were included in the meta-analysis using a random effects model.
Main Results:
- HCD supplementation significantly improved performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale-2 Delayed recall (WMD = 1.5, P < .01).
- No significant effects were observed on other cognitive measures, including the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive and Mini-Mental State Examination.
- The positive effect on delayed recall persisted in subgroup analyses of participants without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and older adults (>65 years).
Conclusions:
- HCD supplementation demonstrates a positive effect on delayed recall, a cognitive function often impaired in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
- Further research with longer follow-up periods and standardized HCD dosages is warranted to fully elucidate their cognitive benefits, particularly in individuals with early cognitive impairment.
