Carnosine

What is carnosine?

Carnosine is a dipeptide composed of 2 amino acids: beta-alanine and 3-methyl-L-histidine ^[1]. It is a nonessential nutrient, which means it can be produced in your body, so you do not need to get it from foods in order to be healthy.

Other names for carnosine: beta-alanyl-L-histidine ^[1]

Carnosine Functions in the Human Body

Carnosine is important for proper function of the muscles, brain and heart ^[1].

Foods High in Carnosine

ANIMAL FOODS: red meat (beef, lamb) ^[8]

Carnosine Supplements

Nonprescription (over-the-counter) supplements are available as:

• L-carnosine (capsules)
• N-acetyl carnosine (eye drops)
• Zinc carnosine (capsules)

Intravenous L-carnosine injections are available by prescription.

Carnosine Health Benefits

There is INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE ^[2] about the effectiveness of L-carnosine supplements in the prevention or treatment of aging, autism ^[3,4,5,6], complications of diabetes such as nerve damage, eye disorders and kidney damage or intestinal lining damage (using zinc carnosine) ^[7], or in increasing exercise performance, removing heavy metals from the body, or as an antioxidant.

Carnosine Safety: Side Effects, Toxicity

There is not enough data to evaluate carnosine safety. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid carnosine supplements ^[2].