Evidence mapPaperPMID 40999397Full record

SynthesisBMC endocrine disorders2025

Effect of carnosine or beta-alanine supplementation therapy for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Na Li, Xueqin Yan, Jiayi Lin, Meng Wu, Xingyu He, Jingxian Yang, Hongling Li, Wenjun Wei, Yinlei Zhang, Yuting Zhong and 5 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC endocrine disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Na Li *Clinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Xueqin Yan *The Second People's Hospital of Pidu District of Chengdu, Chengdu, 611733, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Jiayi LinClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Meng WuClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Xingyu HeClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Jingxian YangClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Hongling LiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, 563006, China.
Wenjun WeiCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Yinlei ZhangClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Yuting ZhongClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Guangya XuCollege of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Zhonglin FanThe Second People's Hospital of Pidu District of Chengdu, Chengdu, 611733, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Xingrong HuThe Second People's Hospital of Pidu District of Chengdu, Chengdu, 611733, Sichuan, P.R. China.
Yao WangClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China. 15123831283@163.com.
Zheng ShiClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, P.R. China. shizheng@cdu.edu.cn.

Funding

Academic Degree and Postgraduate Education Reform Project of Sichuan Province NO.CDJGY2024006Chengdu University Research Initiation Programme 2081923030Key Projects of Chengdu University School of Clinical Medicine and Affiliated Hospital Y202202Longquanyi Talent Program, Class C Innovative Talent Program Special Funding; Chengdu Medical Research Project 2022291, 2023618Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province NO.25NSFSC2579, NO.24NSFSC1618, NO.2024YFFK0287the Key Research and Development Program of Chengdu Economic Development Zone New Economy and Science and Technology Bureau NO.2024LQRD0048
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCarnosine and beta-alanine (β-alanine) have shown potential in the management of chronic conditions, including metabolic disorders. However, their therapeutic efficacy in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes remains inconclusive due to heterogeneity in clinical trial results and limited synthesis of human evidence.

objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the effects of carnosine and β-alanine supplementation on patients with prediabetes and T2DM.

methodsWe searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase from inception to 9 October 2024 for randomized controlled trials that compared carnosine or β-alanine supplementation to placebo in prediabetic and diabetic populations. The quality of evidence was appraised using the Jadad scale, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data were analyzed using RevMan and Stata, employing fixed-effects models and I-V methods.

resultsEight trials met the inclusion criteria, totaling 377 participants. Our analysis indicated that supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) (SMD: -0.53; 95% CI: -0.75 to -0.31; p < 0.00001) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (SMD:-0.36; 95% CI:-0.59 to -0.12; p = 0.003) compared to placebo. No significant effects were observed on body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin. low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), but a lowering effect was observed in total cholesterol (TC). Notably, Homeostasis Model Assessment of Beta-cell Function (HOMA-β) values were improved, suggesting enhanced β-cell function, while changes in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) did not reach statistical significance.

conclusionsCarnosine and β-alanine supplementation show potential as adjunct therapies for improving FBG, HbA1c and HOMA-β in prediabetes and T2DM. Further rigorous studies are warranted to establish optimal dosage, treatment duration, and long-term efficacy in clinical practice.

Indexed as

beta-AlanineCarnosineDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Dietary SupplementsPrediabetic StateBlood GlucoseHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicbeta-AlanineBlood GlucoseCarnosineCarnosine or β-alanine supplementationPrediabetesRandomized controlled trialsType 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID40999397
PMCPMC12465787

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.