Carnosine

Mechanism of action

Acts as the major intracellular pH buffer in skeletal muscle, complementing the beta-alanine mechanism (beta-alanine is the rate-limiting substrate for carnosine synthesis). Strong antioxidant activity. Anti-glycation activity — binds reactive carbonyl species that produce advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Direct supplementation has poor oral bioavailability; beta-alanine supplementation is more effective for raising muscle carnosine.

History

Carnosine was first isolated in 1900 from meat extract by Vladimir Gulevich. Its anti-glycation effects emerged as a research focus in the 1990s alongside aging biology research. Direct oral carnosine has poor bioavailability — the dipeptide is broken down by serum carnosinase. The supplement market includes both direct carnosine (limited efficacy) and beta-alanine (the more effective approach for raising tissue carnosine).

Benefits

• Anti-aging / anti-glycation (theoretical)

  EVIDENCEC

  Mechanism + animal models.

• Cognitive function in autism

  EVIDENCEC

  Chez 2002 small trial.

Side effects

• Paresthesia (large dose)raremild

Cited research

• L-carnosine for autism: small RCT (Chez)2002
  PMID 12428816 ↗
• Carnosine anti-glycation and aging: review (Hipkiss)2009
  PMID 19167492 ↗
• Carnosine pharmacology: review (Boldyrev)2013
  PMID 23899003 ↗

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