Athletes and health-conscious individuals buy carnosine supplements in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and in other countries for anti-aging effects and to reduce muscle fatigue.
L-carnosine supplements are available in pill capsule and bulk powder form, sold in either single-ingredient formulations or in complexes with complementary products. Consumers can also buy beta-alanine supplements to increase levels of this peptide.
Carnosine is also known as beta-alanyl-L-histidine, which denotes that it is a dipeptide formed by the two amino acids L-histidine and beta alanine. Researchers have examined the effects of carnosine on exercise performance and stamina, diabetes, heart disease, autism, obesity, cancer and more.
The health benefits of this supplement are believed to stem primarily from combined antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Carnosine also inhibits the formation of cross-linking and glycation endproducts, two molecular markers of aging.



- Supports athletic peformance & muscle vitality
- Anti-oxidant with anti-glycation effects
- May boost immune system & anti-inflammatory
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L-carnosine is typically sold in 500 mg capsules, as a bulk powder or in the form of eye drops for vision health. In terms of cost effectiveness, the bulk powder is the lowest price option, though many prefer the convenience of using pill capsules.
Popular brands of L-carnosine sold on Amazon and GNC include Now Foods, Source Naturals, Jarrow Formulas, Life Extension, and BulkSupplements.
In most cases, t is not necessary to use L-carnosine supplements to prevent a deficiency in this compound; L-carnosine is synthesized in the body by combining L-histidine and beta alanine, which are both nonessential amino acids.
This means that both of the precursors for L-carnosine can be biosynthesized. They may also be gained from the diet. The best dietary sources for carnosine are meats. Red meats contain the highest concentrations; but fowl, pork and fish are also plentiful.
However, the reason that bodybuilders, athletes and other individuals buy carnosine products is to increase endogenous levels to promote specific health benefits. Sprinters have been found to have higher levels of carnosine in their muscles compared to untrained individuals. This supplement is believed to support athletic performance by serving as an acid buffer in muscles.
It is also known that patients with Alzheimer’s and certain other neurologic conditions have low levels of serum carnosine.
Furthermore, carnosine may be used in an anti-aging regimen or in the treatment for specific diseases. Doctors and naturopaths may recommend L-carnosine or Beta-alanine for the treatment of diabetes, heart disease and autism.
Carnosine for Diabetes Research
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the 7th top cause of death in Canada. In the United States, it is the 6th.
Diabetes is a blanket term for a set of conditions marked by dysfunctions in energy metabolism. These conditions are marked by chronically high blood glucose levels. This can result from overproduction/oversecretion of insulin via the pancreas, or from biologic insensitivity to insulin.
Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus often experience complications; including chronic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), neuropathy (peripheral nerve dysfunction), nephropathy (kidney dysfunction), retinopathy (retina dysfunction) and/or increased risks for cardiovascular disease.
In animal research, L-carnosine administration has reduced blood-glucose levels. It also increases the amount of insulin-secreting cells inside the pancreas.
Further, it stabilizes the structure of red blood cells (erythrocytes), protecting against accumulations of advanced glycation end products (AGE) which cause diabetic complications. L-carnosine may help to treat type 2 diabetes symptoms in humans. More research is needed.
Carnosine for Heart Disease Research
Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death in most countries worldwide. Many consumers are buying carnosine to help them decrease their risks for developing cardiovascular disease. Carnosine acts to impede the hydrolyzation of lipids, like LDL-cholesterol.
Improving lipid profiles lowers risks for developing accumulations of fatty acid plaque inside the arteries. Using an L-carnosine supplement may help to protect you against hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), CAD (coronary artery disease) and subsequent heart disease.
In addition to improving lipid balance in the body, L-carnosine also helps to combat oxidant stress, relax blood vessels (vasodilation), scavenge radical agents and modulate sympathetic nervous system activities which control transient high blood pressure (hypertension).
Carnosine for Autism Research
Autism prevalence is increasing around the world. Autism and autism spectrum disorder denote complex brain development disorders.
Symptoms include difficulties with socialization, and lacking capacities for verbal and nonverbal communication. Autism is believed to stem from early brain development, but normally is diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 3.
There is some research suggesting that carnosine supplements may have positive effects for patients with autism, but more research is needed to determine therapeutic efficacy.
L-carnosine benefits for autism may include improving symptom severity, behavior, socialization, communication, and vocabulary, as well as improving resistance to functional exhaustion. Carnosine may also protect individual neurons from ischemic trauma and oxidative stress.
Some research has used 800 mg daily doses of carnosine for autism. In one 8-week study, certain markers of autism spectrum disorder were diminished in children.
This supplement improved communication and overall behavior patterns. Some subjects experienced temporary hyperactivity. Reducing the daily amount administered remedied this L-carnosine side effect.
Buy Carnosine Eye Drops
L-carnosine is sometimes used for eye disorders and ocular health. The L form of carnosine is not suitable for use as an eye drop medicine.
It has been indicated that this type of use would release harmful histidine molecules which could cause serious, long-term injuries to the eyes. N-acetyl carnosine is used instead.
1% N-acetyl carnosine has been used to treat cataracts. Administering two drops in each eye, twice each day for 2 years has been used with no adverse effects reported.
Conclusions
Although reliable human research is currently limited on the use of supplemental L-carnosine, it is believed to serve multiple integral roles in the body. It demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It also demonstrates antidiabetic, anticancer, cardioprotective, anti-ischemic and other properties in clinical trials.
If you are considering buying carnosine supplements for any specific therapeutic purpose(s), then it is best to discuss supplementation with a doctor first. Make sure she understands your medical history and the prescription medications you use.
L-carnosine is very low in toxicity and well tolerated in most users. Be cautious combining carnosine usage with other supplements or pharmaceuticals that can cause blood sugar levels to drop.
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Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment