β-Alanine supplementation reduces anxiety and increases neurotrophin expression in both young and older rats

Nutrition Research
Jay R HoffmanHagit Cohen

Abstract

The effect of 30 days of β-alanine supplementation (100 mg/kg) on behavioral response and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and markers of inflammation was examined in both young (4 months) and older (14 months) rats. We hypothesized that animals fed β-alanine would experience reduced inflammation and an enhanced neurotrophin and behavioral response. Animals were assigned to either a control group, in which young or older rats were fed regular chow and water, or a β-alanine group, in which rats were fed regular chow and provided β-alanine in their water. Behavior measures were conducted following the 30-day supplementation period, which included spatial learning, memory, and an anxiety index. Hippocampal expressions of BDNF, NPY, glial fibrillary acidic protein, nuclear factor-κB p50 and p65 subunits, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cyclooxygenase-2 were also analyzed. Learning ability was reduced (P = .001) and anxiety index was higher (P = .001) in older compared to young rats. Similarly, BDNF and NPY expressions were reduced and all inflammatory markers were elevated (P < .05) in the older animals. β-Alanine increased BDNF expressions in the cornu ammonis area 1 (P = .003) and 3 (P < ...Continue Reading

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