Carnosine is a protein building block that is naturally produced in the body. carnosine is highly concentrated in muscle tissue and in the brain and heart(99% of carnosine inside body is located in the skeletal muscle(the first tissue with most active oxidative metabolism), carnosine is also present in heart muscle(cardiac muscle) as well as in specific areas of the brain(the second tissue with the most active oxidative metabolism) at approximately 100-fold lower concentrations).
A study in 2018 done by Artioli GG, Sale C, Jones RL named Carnosine in health and disease discovered that carnosine has powerful antioxidant properties and aid in protecting cells against free radical damage and since it is ample in the two most active oxidative metabolism areas of body(skeletal muscle and brain), it can help massively by detoxing them and elevating both our fitness and health status and It is also worth mentioning carnosine appears to reduce inflammation as well.
This is why this substance is being researched for Alzheimer’s and CV related disease(CardioVascular).
Another study in 2013conducted by Herculano B, Tamura M, Ohba A, Shimatani M, Kutsuna N, Hisatsune also found out that supplementation with carnosine hindered cognitive malfunction based on its inhibition of amyloid beta.
Amyloid beta is a large membrane protein that plays an major role in neural growth and rebuild. Although a corrupted form of this can destroy nerve cells with aging, leading to the loss of thought and memory in Alzheimer’s disease.
carnosine is A dipeptide and a compound made up of two linked amino acids (alanine and histidine) with great potential as an exercise enhancer and has been widely used in sports with the aim of improving physical performance and muscular mass builder.
Carnosine is used to prevent aging and to aid in prevention or treatment of complications of diabetes such as nerve damage, eye disorders (cataracts), and kidney problems.
It also has been claimed to be beneficial for people suffering from dry skin and mouth but the main reason behind it is still unclear(whether it aids in hydration or balances hormones or else).
Carnosine has been shown to highly affect energy and calcium metabolism, and reduce lactate accumulation based on a study conducted by Boldyrev A., Kurella E., Stvolinsky S. with the subject of “Biological role of carnosine metabolism in excitable tissues” in 1994 and Boldyrev AA, Aldini G, Derave W with the subject of “Physiology and pathophysiology of carnosine” In 2013.
Carnosine may be particularly beneficial for people suffering from diabetes. it can protect against damage caused by protein glycation. This process, which results from having too much sugar in the body, is a major contributor to diabetes-related complications, such as kidney and nerve damage.
Carnosine also has shown to be beneficial for people suffering from autism by improving their behavior and communication skills.
The truth is scientists are still baffled by this compound and it seems like it needs to be researched and studied a lot more.