Exercise and Carnosine Modulate Microbiota-Derived Metabolites, Myokines, and Cardiometabolic Profiles in Rats: A
Kenan Bozbay1, Vedat Çınar2, Taner Akbulut2
1School of Physical Education and Sports, Dicle University, Diyarbakır 21280, Türkiye.
Biomedicines
|December 30, 2025
Summary
High-intensity exercise combined with carnosine supplementation significantly improves metabolic health by enhancing myokines and beneficial gut microbiota metabolites, offering a synergistic approach to cardiometabolic health.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Carnosine and exercise independently benefit metabolic health.
- Combined effects on myokines and microbiota metabolites are underexplored.
- Focus on lipid and glycemic regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate synergistic impact of carnosine and exercise intensity.
- Analyze effects on microbiota-derived metabolites.
- Assess skeletal muscle and myocardial irisin and myonectin expression.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled study with 49 male rats.
- Groups: control, sham, moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), high-intensity continuous training (HICT), carnosine (CA), MICT+CA, HICT+CA.
- 5-week intervention with treadmill exercise and carnosine supplementation.
Main Results:
- HICT+CA group showed reduced body weight, improved lipid profile (higher HDL-C, lower LDL-C, TC, TG), and lower atherogenic index.
- Elevated skeletal muscle and myocardial irisin and myonectin in HICT+CA group.
- HICT+CA demonstrated favorable shifts in microbiota metabolites (lower TMAO, higher S-equol).
Conclusions:
- High-intensity training with carnosine synergistically improves cardiometabolic health.
- Potential benefits include weight management, enhanced lipid/glycemic control, and improved myokine/microbiota profiles.
- Supports combined approach for metabolic health interventions.
