Carnosine

Why carnosine is good for you

Carnosine is a non-essential amino acid and is a combination of two other amino acids – alanine and histidine.

It is found naturally in tissues like the muscles and brain, but its concentration in the body lowers with advancing age.

Important carnosine facts

• Carnosine is an antioxidant and protects the cells in the body from free radical damage

Carnosine works best with

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Arginine
• Glutamic Acid

Carnosine and health

• Extending cell health life – carnosine may reduce the destruction of valuable proteins and DNA by sugar molecules (called glycosylation). Abnormal combinations of sugar and proteins have only recently been discovered to be very toxic, contributing to several age-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and skin ageing. Carnosine may help prevent damage from glycosylation, allowing the body to to function more optimally – by supporting healthy aging and cellular rejuvenation
• Toxic metal binder – carnosine chelates metals in the body. It reacts with toxic by-products of metabolism and eliminates them from the body. It stabilises the cells, making them more resistant to injury, and boosts the immune system
• Cataracts – studies have shown carnosine drops have been 100% effective in cases of primary senile cataract and 80% effective in cases of mature senile cataracts

Talk to a medical professional about carnosine supplements before taking them

Groups at risk of carnosine deficiency

None reported.

Symptoms of carnosine deficiency

None reported.

Carnosine in food

Carnosine is abundant in all protein foods, but best food sources are:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Pork

Carnosine recommended daily intake (RDI)

Overdosage, toxicity and cautions for carnosine

Carnosine is essentially non-toxic.

There are no known major side effects or incompatibility with other drugs.

There have been some reports of muscle twitching with doses over 1g.

Precautions

Interactions

References

• Osiecki H, Meeke F, Smith J, The Encyclopaedia of Clinical Nutrition – Volume 1: The Nervous System, BioConceps Publishing QLD 2004

Last reviewed and updated: 8 May 2024