What exactly is carnosine?

Carnosine, also known as beta-alanyl-L-histidine, is synthesized in the body from L-histidine and beta-alanine and is therefore called a dipeptide (chemical compound made up of two amino acid residues).

Because carnosine plays a central role in protecting the human brain, it is often also referred to as Neuropeptid It is called and is increasingly used in diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, but also autism.

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that, in addition to being involved in carnosine synthesis, plays an important role in glucose metabolism and energy production. Beta-alanine also serves as a building block for proteins.

Carnosine occurs naturally in healthy muscles, the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and other tissues. Muscles contain approximately 20 μmol/g dry weight.

It can only be ingested through animal-based food. Pork, for example, contains approximately 250-350 mg/100g. Red meat, poultry, and mackerel contain... i.d.RMeat contains between 70 and 200 mg of L-carnosine per 100 grams. The more carnosine the meat contains, the longer its shelf life, as carnosine, a powerful antioxidant, prevents it from becoming rancid.

His concentration decreases with advancing age.

High doses of carnosine are necessary for a therapeutic effect, as the body naturally breaks down carnosine through the enzyme carnosinase. The bioavailability of pure L-carnosine from dietary supplements is good when taken orally. >= 70%.

Most carnosine is absorbed in the small intestine. From the blood, it is transported to the muscles, brain, and other tissues. Human plasma contains no measurable amounts of carnosine, so a potential deficiency cannot be detected by a blood test.

Potential risk groups for deficiency

A carnosine deficiency can be the result of an alanine deficiency. A deficiency of beta-alanine occurs u.a...occurs with a very one-sided and low-protein diet. Vegetarians and vegans are most at risk, as carnosine and alanine are not found in plant-based foods.

Since carnosine acts as an antioxidant and also compensates for a deficiency of other antioxidants such as vitamin E, a deficiency is more frequently observed in cases of chronic stress, autoimmune diseases, heavy metal exposure, etc.

What are the effects of L-carnosine?

• antioxidant
• Carnosine has antioxidant properties and is also associated with potential benefits for brain function and the aging process [cf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627134/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27344459/]

• Carnosine works synergistically with other antioxidants such as vitamin E. &Vitamin C, zinc, selenium, etc., and reduces their consumption. People with a mild vitamin E deficiency (a large proportion of the population suffers from a vitamin E deficiency, as has been proven by worldwide epidemiological studies) consume, for example, more caroline than normal.
• Many antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, aim to prevent free radicals from penetrating tissue, but they are ineffective once this initial protective layer has been breached. Carnosine is not only effective in prevention, but also actively combats damage after free radicals have reacted and formed other harmful compounds such as lipid peroxides and secondary metabolites.
• Malondialdehyde (MDA), a highly reactive end product of lipid peroxidation, is blocked by carnosine, for example. MDA can damage lipids, enzymes, and DNA and plays a role in arteriosclerosis, joint inflammation, cataracts, and general aging.
• By interacting with aldehydic lipid oxidation products, carnosine protects our tissues from oxidation, as aldehydes can form adducts with DNA, proteins, enzymes and lipoproteins, which can lead to harmful changes in their biological activity (see Burcham et al. 2002).

• sport

• Carnosine can balance the acid-base ratio in muscle cells and thus delay muscle fatigue [cf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257613/During intense physical activity, lactic acid and other metabolic byproducts can accumulate, leading to a drop in blood acid levels and potentially accelerating muscle fatigue. Carnosine can regulate the acid-base balance in muscles, thus delaying fatigue and potentially improving performance during training or competition.
• Carnosine can also help with recovery after training, as it acts as an antioxidant to help reduce oxidative stress and support the regeneration of muscle tissue [cf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8300828/].
• In sports and bodybuilding, carnosine is also involved in the detoxification process of reactive aldehydes from lipid peroxidation, which are produced in skeletal muscles during physical exertion. Therefore, carnosine protects skeletal muscles from injury.
• Carnosine was administered to Russian athletes and swimmers for years, providing remarkable benefits in energy and endurance. As early as 1953, a Russian scientist demonstrated its effectiveness. S.ESeverin demonstrated that carnosine effectively buffers lactic acid produced by working muscles and that carnosine supplementation increased muscle contractility and endurance. When carnosine is depleted, lactic acid accumulates in the muscles, the pH level drops, and the muscles become fatigued. When carnosine is added, the muscles recover almost immediately and contract as if they had never been fatigued. This is known as the 'Severin phenomenon'.

• Longevity/Anti-Aging

• Due to its antioxidant effect, L-carnosine can help to effectively reduce oxidative stress and slow down cell aging [cf. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25201708/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27344459/ and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4745351/].

• There are some studies suggesting that L-carnosine, beyond its antioxidant cell-protecting abilities, may also possess other anti-aging properties. It is believed to play a role in the Regulation of telomere length plays [cf. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15474517/Telomeres are the protective ends of DNA strands in chromosomes and shorten with each cell division. Longer telomeres are associated with a longer cell lifespan.
• Extending the lifespan of the cells by preventing glycation
• One of the most important effects of carnosine is its antiglycation effect (see Aldini et al. 2002a, 2002b and Yeargans and Seidler 2003). Glycation refers to the binding of a protein to a glucose molecule, which alters the protein structure and reduces its biological activity. The result is so-called "advanced glycation end products" (AGEs), which are recognized as a major factor in the aging process.
• Once AGEs are formed, they interact with neighboring proteins to create pathological cross-links that harden tissue. Diabetics form excessive amounts of AGEs earlier than non-diabetics, which, for example, leads to the hardening of the arteries in diabetics. i.d.R. are hardened.
• Another consequence of AGEs is a 50-fold increase in the formation of free radicals, which v.a. arteries, the lens and the Retina the eyes peripheral nerves and the kidneys attack. Cataract It can therefore also form due to glycation.
• Carnosine counteracts glycation and can also play a role in the removal of glycated protein.By combining carnosine with denatured molecules (“carnosinylation”), AGEs are marked for cell removal.
• Prevention of protein carbonylation

• With age, proteins tend to undergo destructive changes due to oxidation, glycation, and carbonylation. During carbonylation, carbonyl groups attach to protein molecules, causing them to divide during protein breakdown (proteolysis).
• This protein denaturation and protein breakdown is not only heavily involved in the aging process, but also in well-known signs such as skin aging, cataracts, and nerve degeneration (d.h. Memory loss and dementia).
• Carnosine reacts with the carbonyl group to form an inactive protein-carbonyl-carnosine adduct, thereby protecting the proteins and reversing denaturation..

• Brain/neuroprotective effects
  • There is also some evidence that carnosine may have a positive effect on brain health. The substance is thought to possess neuroprotective properties and could protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's [cf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627134/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17522447/].
  • Chelation of copper and zinc (see Miller and O'Dowd 2000, Chez 2003): Copper and zinc are released during normal synaptic activity. However, in slightly acidic environments, which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, they are reduced to their ionic forms and thus become toxic to the nervous system. Carnosine naturally protects against the toxicity of copper and zinc in the brain by chelating the two metals. Copper-zinc chelators dissolve the drusen of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, carnosine prevents the cross-linking of amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's drusen.
  • Carbonylation of phospholipids is harmful v.a...the central and peripheral nervous systems and leads to memory problems and other impairments of cognitive abilities. Because carnosine counteracts the carbonylation of phospholipids, it is considered an important neuroprotectant.

• Heavy metal detoxification
• Carnosine plays a role in the body's own detoxification process, phase II. d.h. in the chelation of heavy metals (see Miller and O'Dowd 2000, Chez 2003). After the metals have been made reactive in phase I, chelation in phase II enables the body to excrete them via the kidneys.

• Carnosine has the ability to chelate pro-oxidative metals such as copper, zinc and toxic heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel).
• Organic mercury is included in most vaccines as an antimicrobial preservative. Carnosine can chelate organic mercury (thiomersal or thimerosal).

• autismA double-blind study from the USA in 2002 demonstrated significant effects of carnosine on autistic children (see [reference]). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12585724/Thirty-one children with autism spectrum disorder were studied in an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether 800 mg of L-carnosine daily would lead to observable changes based on the Gilliam Autism Scale compared to placebo. After 8 weeks of L-carnosine, the children showed statistically significant improvements, while no statistically significant changes were observed in the placebo group. Although the mechanism of action of L-carnosine is not yet fully understood, it may improve neurological function, possibly in the enterorhinal or temporal cortex.
  
  
• gastric mucosa/stomach ulcersSeveral recent studies show that a combination of zinc and carnosine can protect the gastric mucosa from various irritants and is effective as a substance for preventing ulcers (Odashima et al. 2002). For example, carnosine reduces platelet coagulation in patients with abnormal coagulation tendencies and increases coagulation in patients with reduced blood coagulation.
  
  
• Hemolytic anemiaCarnosine has protective effects on blood cell membranes, which prolongs their survival, as well as cell membrane stabilizing effects, thus protecting against chemically induced hemolytic anemia.

Side effects

Since carnosine is a natural compound found in the body, it i.d.RIt is very well tolerated and has a low risk of side effects.

Very high doses can lead to mild gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea.