Composed of the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine, carnosine is a compound formed in the body. In addition to its powerful antioxidant properties, research shows that carnosine can provide a wide range of health benefits, from improving muscle function to boosting eye health.
Eye Health
According to the Nutra Ingredients website, researchers found that carnosine might be effective in preventing and treating cataracts, an eye condition that causes clouding of the lens. Scientists discovered that carnosine supplementation helps restore clarity in the lenses, partly due to its ability to repair alpha-crystallin, the major protein in the lens that is responsible for producing the cloudiness. Although further research has to be conducted, carnosine seems promising for improving eye health.
Autism
Researchers investigated the effects of carnosine in children with autistic spectrum disorders, according to a study published in the November 2002 issue of the "Journal of Child Neurology." During the eight week study, participants consumed 800 milligrams of L-carnosine or a placebo. Scientists observed that the L-carnosine group had significant improvements in the Gilliam Autism Rating scale, which is a scale that helps to determine the severity of autism, compared to the placebo group. Researchers are unsure of the mechanism that causes these results, but they suggest that carnosine supplementation may increase temporal cortex function.
Muscle Function
In the body, beta-alanine combines with the amino acid histidine to form carnosine. According to the Science Daily website, supplementing with beta-alanine increases carnosine production within muscles, which can help improve muscle function in the elderly. Researchers found that beta-alanine supplementation significantly boosted fitness levels as well as muscle capacity in the elderly.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetes can result in the serious medical condition known as diabetic neuropathy, which causes kidney disease. According to research published in the August 2005 issue of the "Journal of Diabetes," researchers found that ingesting carnosine inhibits the growth of proteins such as fibronectin that play a role in causing diabetic neuropathy.
References
- Nutra Ingredients: Carnosine may help prevent cateracts: Study
- Journal of Child Neurology: Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of L-carnosine supplementation in children with autistic spectrum disorders
- Science Daily: Dietary Sport Supplement Shows Strong Effects In The Elderly
- Diabetes: Carnosine as a Protective Factor in Diabetic Nephropathy
