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Carnosine & Cortisol

Carnosine is a major building block in the body and found in high concentrations in tissues such as muscle, heart, brain and the eyes. It is used in medical settings to treat tissue damage resulting from diabetes, cataracts and kidney failure. It is also a popular over-the-counter supplement. Whether carnosine significantly influences cortisol levels is unclear because only limited scientific literature exists, suggesting that carnosine may reduce cortisol response to stress.

  1. Carnosine

    • Amino acids are the most basic building blocks of proteins, and most of our tissues (not just muscles) are either made of amino acids or contain a large concentration of amino acids. Carnosine is made out of the amino acids, beta-alanine and histidine, and is a major building block in muscles, nerves, eyes and the heart among other organs. Other names for carnosine include: B-alanyl-L-histidine, B-alanyl histidine, Beta-alanyl-L-histidine, N-Acetyl-Carnosine, N-Acetyl-L-Carnosine. The substance is available over the counter without a prescription.

    Carnosine and Longevity

    • Carnosine is a potent antioxidant and scavenges free radicals. Therefore, it is widely used as an anti-aging supplement at varying doses. Research suggests that carnosine may slow down the aging process by slowing down glycosylation and oxidation, as well as having a potent anti-inflammatory effect. It is especially popular as an anti-aging agent for the eyes and the heart. Whether it actually add years to your life through these mechanisms is not fully clear, but users do report an improved sense of well-being at doses ranging from 50 to 200 mg of carnosine per day.

    Cortisol

    • Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys. It plays numerous roles in the body, including the regulation of blood sugar, muscle protein breakdown, the accumulation and distribution of body fat and the regulation of the immune system. Cortisol is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents in the body and is manufactured in large quantities following stressful events. While sedating and relaxing in the short run, problems start to develop if a person is under constant stress and exposed to consistently elevated cortisol levels. Excessive weight gain and frequent infections are some of the unpleasant side effects of chronically elevated cortisol levels.

    Carnosine and Cortisol

    • The scientific literature on the direct relationship between carnosine and cortisol is rather thin. In a study entitled "Acceleration of metabolism of stress-related substances by L-carnosine," researchers studied the effects of carnosine on rats exposed to electric shock and found that in animals that were given carnosine injections, blood cortisol levels returned to normal more quickly. As with all animal studies, it is unclear whether the results are applicable to humans and if carnosine pills will have the same result as the injectable form. However, this study suggests that carnosine may help combat chronically elevated cortisol levels.

    Considerations

    • Although assertions that carnosine supplementation will reduce cortisol levels cannot be made yet, carnosine may help preserve optimum health in numerous other ways, is widely available and no side effects have been reported. It may be a worthwhile addition to a supplement regimen.

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