Beta-alanine (as part of carnosine) can only be obtained by consuming animal products. The primary sources of dietary carnosine include beef (1.7–2.3 mg per gram), pork (around 2.4 mg per gram), poultry (0.7–2.2 mg per gram), chicken broth (around 1.1 mg per milliliter), and fish.[1][2][3]
Though food can be a good source of beta-alanine, obtaining the recommended dosage of 3.2–6.4 grams/day through diet alone could be difficult. For instance, given that beta-alanine constitutes roughly 40% of carnosine's molecular weight, you would need to consume around 7.8–10.5 lb (3.5–4.8 kg) of beef, 7.3 lb (3.3 kg) of pork, or 8.0–25.3 lb (3.6–11.5 kg) of poultry to obtain 3.2 grams of beta-alanine.
References
- ^Yeum KJ, Orioli M, Regazzoni L, Carini M, Rasmussen H, Russell RM, Aldini GProfiling histidine dipeptides in plasma and urine after ingesting beef, chicken or chicken broth in humans.Amino Acids.(2010-Mar)
- ^Gil-Agustí M, Esteve-Romero J, Carda-Broch SAnserine and carnosine determination in meat samples by pure micellar liquid chromatography.J Chromatogr A.(2008-May-02)
- ^Abe H, Dobson GP, Hoeger U, Parkhouse WSRole of histidine-related compounds to intracellular buffering in fish skeletal muscle.Am J Physiol.(1985-Oct)