The Study
A New Method for Non-Invasive Estimation of Human Muscle Fiber Type Composition
This study found that athletes who run short distances (like sprinters) tend to have more carnosine in their muscles than long-distance runners. But it doesn't prove that carnosine makes them faster — it just shows they go together, like how people who wear running shoes often run more.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Your muscles have different types of fibers—some are built for quick bursts (sprinting), others for long runs (marathons). This study found that a natural chemical called carnosine is much more common in the fast-twitch fibers used for sprinting.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes—this means your body’s natural carnosine level might tell coaches whether you’re born to sprint or run long distances, even before you train much.
- 2Sprinters had 30% more carnosine than regular people; marathon runners had 20% less.
- 3Even retired sprinters still had high levels, and young kids with sprinting talent already had more carnosine than those with endurance talent.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
PLoS ONE
Year
2011
Authors
A. Baguet, I. Everaert, P. Hespel, M. Petrovic, E. Achten, W. Derave
Related Content
Claims (6)
Elite sprint athletes have about 30% more carnosine in their muscles than endurance athletes, and endurance athletes have about 20% less carnosine than people who do not train regularly.
People who used to be sprinters have higher levels of carnosine in their muscles than people who used to be endurance athletes, even many years after they stopped training.
Carnosine is found in higher amounts in muscle fibers that are used during short, intense bursts of activity like sprinting or weightlifting.
Athletes who compete in longer endurance events, such as marathons, have lower muscle carnosine levels than sprinters who compete in short distances like 100 meters, as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
The concentration of carnosine in the gastrocnemius muscle, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, is directly related to the proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers, with a strong statistical association.
Young athletes with natural explosive power have higher levels of carnosine in their muscles than young athletes with natural endurance ability, and these differences in carnosine levels are present before training begins and are inherited.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.