Food supplement of carnosine, dipeptide against glycation

Carnosine, or l-carnosine, is a peptide formed naturally by the body during digestion of protein-rich foods, now available to buy in vegetarian capsules. Abundantly present in muscle and brain tissue, it is primarily involved in the contraction of various muscles and tissues including that of the heart.

What are the benefits associated with Carnosine capsules?

As a result of its antioxidant potency and anti-glycation effect, carnosine is sometimes considered as an anti-ageing treatment. It continues to be the subject of numerous studies on its benefits for slowing down the body’s ageing process. Scientists are focusing on its potential for delaying ageing of the muscles which can manifest in muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass, also known as sarcopenia.

Damage to proteins is one of the key mechanisms of ageing. Essential for the body to function properly, proteins are destroyed by either oxidation (free radicals) or glycation (a reaction with glucose molecules). Skin ageing is the most visible sign of protein damage, manifesting as wrinkles, loss of elasticity and reduced healing capacity. But the visible changes to the skin also reflect those affecting the whole body - muscles, blood vessels, the eyes, the brain and many other organs. When too many proteins cease to function, the body ages prematurely and becomes the target for degenerative diseases.

What do studies say about Carnosine?

Studies show that the amino acid carnosine is the most effective antioxidant against the hydroxyl radical (proteins' no. 1 enemy) and the most powerful inhibitor of the glycation process which caramelises' proteins through cross-linking. Research also shows that carnosine levels in muscles drops by more than 63% at the age of 70 - which could explain the decline in muscle mass typically seen with advancing age. The reduction in carnosine in the body, associated with increasing oxidative stress and reliance on high-carbohydrate diets, makes supplementation desirable, if not essential. We're cutting its price significantly as we're keen it should not be prohibitively expensive to a wider market. We believe carnosine to be the most important new product to appear in recent times in the field of nutrition:

• Is one of the few nutrients with powerful, pluri-potent and proven activity.
• Protects proteins in the eye from damage caused by malondialdehyde (MDA) and stops MDA from inducing cross-linking.
• Is concentrated in the brain and protects it from glycation, cross-linking, oxidation and excitotoxicity. It protects cerebral capillaries from damage caused by amyloid beta, lipid peroxides and metabolism of alcohol.
• Extends the longevity of senescent cells, enabling them to continue dividing for longer, like young cells. In one in vitro study on fibroblasts (a type of cutaneous cell), longevity increased by 67%.
• Effective as an anti-glycation agent than aminoguanidine and can prevent the development of cross-links in collagen.
• Effective at treating senile cataracts, and at slowing down cataract development (as shown in studies on dogs and rabbits, respectively).
• One of a small group of substances which can extend the lifespan of mammals: mice treated with carnosine survived 20% longer than controls. In addition, they looked younger and their brains had significantly less malondialdehyde (MDA) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) than controls, indicating more youthful metabolism of dopamine.
• Reduced peroxidation of cerebral lipids by 85% in mice subjected to intense stress and increased six-fold the protective antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in their brains.
• Most promising, multi-functional discovery of the past few years in the field of anti-ageing nutrition, influencing our longevity of our bodies as a whole, as well as at a cellular level. Research shows that it helps maintain the structural, functional and genetic integrity of the body - naturally and with no toxicity.

Some studies have demonstrated significant activity from carnosine at relatively low doses, around 150 mg a day. Others show superior activity at higher doses - 1000-1500 mg a day - levels at which the enzyme carnosinase (which damages carnosine) becomes saturated, making free carnosine available to the whole body.

Supplements that work in synergy with Carnosine

Other dietary supplements available to buy at Supersmart may also be of interest to help boost the protective effects of carnosine. The synergistic formulation AntiOxidant Synergy, for example, provides the antioxidant potency of numerous compounds including curcumin, a much-prized ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine, alpha-lipoic acid, known as the ‘hyper-antioxidant’, and glutathione, a key endogenous antioxidant.