Carnosine
Carnosine is a small molecule composed of the amino acids, histidine and alanine. It is found in relatively high concentrations in several body tissues—most notably in skeletal muscle, heart muscle, and brain.1 2
Carnosine has been used in connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete information):
Who is likely to be deficient?
Carnosine deficiency may occur in severe protein deficiency and in certain severe genetic disorders characterized by inborn errors in amino acid metabolism.
How much is usually taken?
For eradication of H. pylori, the amount of the zinc carnosine complex used in research studies was 150 mg twice daily. Due to the lack of human clinical trials, recommended levels for other applications are not known at this time.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Due to the lack of human studies, side effects and interactions are not known.
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with carnosine.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
1. Quinn PJ, Boldyrev AA, Formazuyk VE. Carnosine: its properties, functions and potential therapeutic applications. Mol Aspects Med 1992;13:379-444.
2. Bonfanti L, Peretto P, De Marchis S, Fasolo A. Carnosine-related dipeptides in the mammalian brain. Prog Neurobiol 1999;59:333-53.
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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2009.