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Assessing Acute Transcutaneous Carnosine Delivery as an Ergogenic Aid in Middle Distance Running

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Thesis(995.41 KB)

Date

2025

Authors

Supervisor

Kilding, Andrew
Maunder, Ed
Rothschild, Jeffrey

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Master of Sport Exercise and Health

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

This study investigated the ergogenic effect of acute application of a topical carnosine gel on middle distance running performance. In a block-randomised, single-blind, crossover design, 16 trained middle-distance runners (9 males, 7 females; age 25 ± 5 years; height, 177 ± 7 cm; mass, 67 ± 6 kg, training duration 8.3 ± 3.2 h/wk) performed an 800m outdoor individual time-trial under three different conditions: no-gel trial (NG), informed carnosine – given placebo gel (PG), and informed carnosine – given carnosine gel trial (CG). Gel dose was 0.2ml/kg body mass (13.4 ± 1.3 mL) which was applied to the upper and lower legs 60 min prior to the time-trial. Blood lactate (BLa), heart rate (HR) and perceptual responses were determined pre and post time-trial. Linear mixed modelling revealed that there was no difference in 800m performance time (p = .276), lap split difference (p = .419), peak HR (p = .956), perceived readiness (p = .644), or differential RPE (p = .805 to .891), between conditions. There was an overall effect of trial condition on post-trial peak blood lactate (p= .029), with a greater peak blood lactate in CG than NG trials (NG = 15.0 ± 4.2, PG = 15.5 ± 3.9, CG = 16.5 ± 3.7 mmol/L, p = .017, d = 0.45), but not PG vs CG trials (p = .114) or NG vs PG (p = .420). In conclusion, despite some evidence for greater blood lactate concentration, the application of a topical carnosine gel has no ergogenic placebo or true ergogenic effect on middle-distance running performance.

Description

Keywords

acid–base balance, ergogenic aids, lotion, sprint-endurance, high-intensity exercise, buffer

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Permanent link

http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20093

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Masters Theses