L-Carnosine Side Effects, Drug Interactions and Dangers

L-Carnosine is a natural dipeptide that plays a number of important roles in the body. It is made by combining beta-alanine and L-histidine, both amino acids.

L-Carnosine supplements are commonly used by athletes and health-conscious individuals who want to promote longevity and general well-being. Carnosine is safe with a low risk of side effects, but it may interact with some medications and supplements.

L-Carnosine may be recommended as an adjunct therapy for diabetes mellitus or autism. This supplement has also been researched for its antiglycation, antioxidant, cardioprotective, anticancer and antidiabetic effects.

In humans, carnosine is naturally found in the brain, skeletal muscles, the heart and certain other innervated organs and tissues. As such, L-Carnosine side effects are not common in the majority of users.

Carnosine

Bodybuilding Supplement

Endurance

Body- building

Anti- Aging

How It Works:

• Supports athletic peformance & muscle vitality
• Anti-oxidant with anti-glycation effects
• May boost immune system & anti-inflammatory

Dosage:

500 mg per day

Safety:

Generally Well Tolerated

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Is L-Carnosine Good for You?

L-Carnosine and its precursor Beta-Alanine are frequently used as pre-workout supplements to enhance athletic performance. Bodybuilders often take these supplements to boost workout power output, reduce muscle fatigue and support muscle building regimens.

In the body, Carnosine helps to buffer muscle tissues and inhibit excessive concentrations of hydrogen ions which result from physical exertion.

When you work out, lactic acid is produced in the muscles which can cause a burning sensation. Carnosine helps to delay that burning sensation so that athletes can work out at a higher intensity for longer.

Hydrogen ions cause intramuscular pH alterations which result in muscular acidosis. Using carnosine supplements may help to prolong endurance and facilitate enhanced recovery between physical exercise by decreasing H+ ions.

L-Carnosine and Glycation

L-carnosine is also of interest as a safe anti-glycation supplement. Glycation is the attachment of sugars to proteins, causing rigidity, stickiness and dysfunction of protein molecules.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) result from chronic glycation and can cause many health problems, as well as accelerate the aging process.

AGEs are abnormal protein chains which have been oxidized and cross-linked. AGEs are believed to be responsible for certain diabetes complications; including cataracts, kidney failure and diabetic neuropathy.

Animal research suggests that oral administration of L-carnosine reduces protein glycation and may help to prevent glycation-related cell damage.

In other animal studies, carnosine administration has prevented cellular membrane lipid peroxidation.

This may be due to carnosine’s apparent capacity to inhibit the actions of a toxic end product of lipid peroxidation called MDA (malondialdehyde). Carnosine seems to protect protein chains from alterations and toxicity induced by MDA.

Because of its apparent lipid-improving potentials, carnosine is being explored for its possible effects on the formation of cataracts, inflammation in the joints and the development of atherosclerosis.

The heavy metal-chelating, antioxidant and antiglycation properties of L-carnosine may also prove beneficial for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Carnosine may help to reduce endothelial and neuronal damage to cells from Alzheimer’s disease. It also may protect cells from side effects and toxicity induced by excessive zinc and copper exposure.

Safe L-Carnosine Dosage Recommendations

While L-carnosine side effects are not common, you should still be cautious when using any type of natural supplement and never take more than the recommended dosage.

L-carnosine dietary supplements commonly come in 500 mg capsules. Always follow the instructions on labels of supplements you may use.

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD), the following carnosine dosages have been tested.

150 mg daily doses of polaprezinc have been used for stomach ulcers. Polaprezinc contains carnosine and zinc and seems to work by suppressing Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria known to cause gastrointestinal ulcerations.

In allopathic medicine, carnosine is sometimes used in the form of N-acetyl carnosine in a 1% eyedrop solution for treating cataracts. Two drops in each eye every day has yielded positive results in cataract patients.

In Russia, N-acetyl carnosine eyedrops are available in strengths up to 5%. No side effects have been reported in association with usage of these eyedrops.

Twice-daily L-carnosine doses between 100 mg and 200 mg have been used in children for encouraging overall pediatric health. Doses were administered before breakfast and again before lunch.

In children with epilepsy, brain trauma and/or central processing dysfunction, L-carnosine has been used in doses ranging between 200 mg and 3000 mg daily. No serious or lasting L-carnosine side effects were reported.

In one double-blind human trial involving thirty-one children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder), 800 mg L-carnosine doses were administered daily.

Oral supplementation continued for 8 consecutive weeks. Strong improvements were noted in general behavior, communication, vocabulary and socialization.

This is the only L-carnosine trial that has reported side effects. In this case, some of the children demonstrated sporadic hyperactivity at 800 mg daily doses.

This dosage level was decreased in affected subjects and the hyperactivity was rapidly reversed. No other adverse effects or health risks were noted.

L-Carnosine Side Effects during Pregnancy and Lactation

The NMCD states that there is currently insufficient data available to rate the safety of L-carnosine supplementation in pregnant or nursing women.

Until more extensive research is completed, L-carnosine usage is not recommended for these groups without a doctor’s permission and guidance.

Conclusions

L-carnosine is a dipeptide that is believed to possess multiple therapeutic potentials. It may prove to be useful for treating and/or preventing cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, stroke, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and more.

Although carnosine dietary supplementation believed to be well tolerated in healthy individuals, you should still approach usage cautiously.

L-carnosine may interact negatively with medications and herbal supplements with hypotensive potentials. Some of these include antihypertensive drugs, coenzyme Q10, casein peptides, cat’s claw, L-arginine, theanine, lycium, nettle, andrographis and fish oil.

Carnosine’s benefits seem to stem mainly from its antiglycation and antioxidant effects. Various doses have been tested between 100 mg and 3000 mg daily. None of these doses have been associated with chronic or serious L-carnosine side effects.

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