On 2 occasions, the participants completed 12 sprints on a cycle ergometer (24 seconds at a submaximal intensity, followed by 6 seconds with maximal effort), each separated by a 30-second rest period, with the exception of the 6th set, which had a 2-minute rest period.

Forty-five minutes before the test, the participants applied 10 mL of carnosine gel or a placebo gel to each leg.

Peak power output was higher on sprints 2 (large effect size), 4 (medium effect size), and 7 (large effect size) with carnosine than the placebo.

Although there were no other statistically significant differences between groups, power output was generally greater with carnosine. The small number of participants may have limited the ability to detect statistically significant differences between groups.

The effect of carnosine gel on peak power during cycling sprints

HT = half time, the 2-minute rest period between the first and last sets of sprints.

Topical carnosine gel for high-intensity exercise performance Original paper