Carnosine supplement benefit and side effect, as antioxidant, dosage of 250 mg and 500 mg capsules, by Ray Sahelian, M.D. a review of medical uses and benefits, also used as eye drops

Carnosine is a small molecule composed of the amino acids histidine and alanine. This dipeptide is found in relatively high concentrations in several body tissues—most notably in skeletal muscle, heart muscle, skin, stomach, nerve tissue and brain. The exact biological role is not well understood, but many studies indicate that carnosine has antioxidant potential. Carnosine may also act as a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger in the nervous system). Carnosine has been called a longevity nutrient since laboratory studies on tissues indicate that it can delay senescence and provoke cellular rejuvenation in cultured human fibroblasts. Carnosine has been called the anti-aging and anti-oxidant dipeptide. The exact role of carnosine supplementation in human health is not clear at this time but carnosine appears to be a promising nutrient with much potential. 

Purchase L Carnosine 500 mg per pill, 30 Capsules - Pharmaceutical Grade

L-Carnosine is naturally produced in the body by the enzyme carnosine synthetase. This nutrient supports healthy aging and cellular rejuvenation by its effects on two mechanisms: Glycosylation and free radical damage. Glycosylation is the oxidation of proteins by glucose resulting in cross-linking of proteins and which is implicated in loss of cell function, genome integrity and accelerated aging.  It also protects the aging process of the brain by retarding lipid peroxidation and stabilizing cell membranes.

Physiological role
First isolated in 1900, carnosine is a dipeptide commonly present in human and animal tissue, and in particular in skeletal muscle cells; it is responsible for a variety of activities related to the detoxification of the body from free radical species and the by-products of membrane lipids peroxidation. Carnosine also has membrane-protecting activity, proton buffering capacity, formation of complexes with transition metals, and regulation of macrophage function. It has been proposed that carnosine could act as a natural scavenger of dangerous reactive aldehydes from the degradative oxidative pathway of endogenous molecules such as sugars, polyunsaturated fatty acids and proteins. Carnosine is a potent and selective scavenger of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, typical by-products of membrane lipids peroxidation and considered second messengers of the oxidative stress, and inhibits aldehyde-induced protein-protein and DNA-protein cross-linking in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, in cardiovascular ischemic damage, and in inflammatory diseases.

L Carnosine Research studies
l Carnosine reduces telomere damage and shortening rate in cultured normal fibroblasts.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004.
Telomere is the repetitive DNA sequence at the end of chromosomes, which shortens progressively with cell division and limits the replicative potential of normal human somatic cells. l Carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide, has been reported to delay the replicative senescence, and extend the lifespan of cultured human diploid fibroblasts. In this work, we studied the effect of carnosine on the telomeric DNA of cultured human fetal lung fibroblast cells. Cells continuously grown in carnosine exhibited a slower telomere shortening rate and extended lifespan in population doublings. When kept in a long-term nonproliferating state, they accumulated much less damages in the telomeric DNA when cultured in the presence of carnosine. We suggest that the reduction in telomere shortening rate and damages in telomeric DNA made an important contribution to the life-extension effect of carnosine.

Dietary supplementation of L-carnosine prevents ischemia/reperfusion-induced renal injury in rats.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2005.
Our findings strongly suggest that Lcarnosine supplementation is useful as a prophylactic treatment in the development of the ischemic acute renal failure.

Dose-dependent effects of L carnosine on the renal sympathetic nerve and blood pressure in urethane-anesthetized rats.
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004
The physiological function of carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) synthesized in mammalian muscles until recently has been unclear. Previously, we observed that intravenous injection of carnosine suppressed renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in urethane-anesthetized rats, and carnosine administered via the diet inhibited the elevation of blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive rats. To identify the mechanism, we examined effects of IV or intra-lateral cerebral ventricular (LCV) injection of various doses of carnosine on RSNA and BP in urethane-anesthetized rats. Lower doses of carnosine significantly suppressed RSNA and BP, while higher doses elevated RSNA and BP. These findings suggest that low-dose carnosine suppresses and high-dose carnosine stimulates RSNA and BP, that the SCN and histaminergic nerve are involved in the activities, and that carnosine acts in the brain and possibly other organs.

Influence of carnosine on the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin in rabbits.
Pol J Pharmacol. 2003.
The aim of this study was to establish the effect of naturally occurring antioxidant carnosine on the doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity in a rabbit model. For this purpose, we evaluated the influence of DOX administration alone and in a combined therapy with carnosine on the hemodynamic parameters and on the degree of cardiac muscle cell alterations in rabbits. Thirty one chinchilla rabbits were divided into four groups. One group of rabbits was injected iv with DOX at a dose of 2 mg kg(-1) weekly for 7 weeks to induce congestive heart failure. Another group of rabbits received the same doses of DOX simultaneously with carnosine at a dose of 100 mg kg(-1) po daily for 9 weeks. Administration of carnosine started 1 week prior to the first dose of DOX and ended one week after the administration of the last dose of DOX. The control groups of animals received 0.9% NaCl and carnosine alone. The histopathological studies revealed smaller damage of cardiac muscle in rabbits which received DOX with carnosine in comparison to animals receiving DOX alone. Carnosine seems to be cardioprotective during DOX administration.

Efficacy of N-acetyl- carnosine in the treatment of cataracts. Drugs R D 2002

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I just thought I would bring to your attention a website in which I feel is spreading misinformation. Dr. E.K. Schandl is saying carnosine causes carnosinemia which is an inherited condition but to hear him tell it, supplemental carnosine causes an overload leading to this condition. I feel he is misleading people. He needs to be held accountable for his misleading statements that aren't really backed up by any scientific research. The only research he cites concerns people with the inherited condition. I wrote him about my concerns and he wrote back with a very insulting comment. I was wondering if you knew of any avenue we could take to stop this man from deterring people from such a wonderful supplement.
    Although we disagree with his viewpoint on carnosine (we feel it is safe and beneficial in 100 to 250 mg doses taken a few days a week), we feel each person has a right to their own opinion and whatever they wish to say on their website.

Would Carnosine in a liquid form be effective in the treatment of autism. Would it tend to degrade into alanine and histidine - and/or would this be a benefit or problematic? What's the current thinking? Would a liquid form still be of benefit to autism?
    I have not seen studies regarding the liquid form of carnosine, we don't see how it could have advantages over the carnosine capsules. In fact, a capsule can be opened and part of the carnosine used in water or juice.

I get an allergic response (sinus problems, skin rash) to oral carnosine at 500-1000mg, I could lower the dose but I'm curious why this happens (most people can take 1000mg for antiaging (antiglycation) effects). I'm not allergic otherwise to any food. I believe it's a histamine release but I find it strange. Hope to get a reply and keep up the good site!
    Carnosine converts into histidine which converts into histamine. Perhaps too high of a carnosine dose can shift the metabolic pathway towards histamine. I don't think more than 100 mg of carnosine is needed on a regular basis. Too much of a good thing can sometimes be harmful.