L-Carnosine Benefits and Side Effects

Posted By Paul on Apr 15, 2007 | 4 comments

L-carnosine is a compound consists of two amino acids, beta-alanine and histidine. Such combinations of amino acids are known as dipeptides.

L-carnosine has antioxidant properties that help to protect the body from the damage caused by oxidation, a natural process that is a result of chemical reactions that take place in the body every day. Oxidative damage, also known as free radical damage, contributes to degenerative diseases and aging.

In youth, l-carnosine is found in abundance in muscle and brain tissue, but it begins to decline naturally with age. Since it is found in muscle tissue, the best food sources of l-carnosine are meat, poultry, and fish. For people who do not eat enough complete protein or for those with specific health concerns that may respond to l-carnosine, supplements may be useful.

L-carnosine supplements may have several positive effects on health, most of which are related to its ability to neutralize free radical damage. For example, l-carnosine can reduce the protein and DNA damage caused by a process called glycosylation. Glycosylation occurs when sugars and proteins combine in abnormal ways, a process that contributes to the pathology of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and skin damage. Also, reactive metal ions that are produced by various metabolic reactions in the body are bound by l-carnosine and eliminated before damage to tissues can occur. The cells of the immune system are strengthened and stabilized by l-carnosine as well.

There is also some neurological research that suggests that l-carnosine supplements may help children with epilepsy and autism. The basis for this research is the fact that l-carnosine appears to stimulate brain function in areas of the brain that control emotion, abstract thinking, and expressive speech. In one double blind study conducted by a neurologist, children given 400 mg of l-carnosine twice a day showed significant improvement auditory processing, social skills, awareness of surroundings, fine motor planning and expressive language.

To protect against free radical damage, lower doses of l-carnosine are considered sufficient. The usual recommended dosage of l-carnosine for general use is 50-200 mg per day.

What about side-effects?

L-carnosine is considered to be extremely safe, and few side effects are reported when it is used within recommended guidelines. In some cases, children taking l-carnosine supplements for autism appear to become more hyperactive, though it has not been determined whether this is an effect of l-carnosine supplementation or whether it is simply related to a decrease in autistic symptoms that appear as an increase in activity and excitability.