What Is Carnosine?

Carnosine is a nutritional supplement as well as antioxidant. It is a tiny molecule that is comprised of both alanine and histidine, both of which are amino acids, and is found in various bodily tissues, especially in the brain, nerve tissue, heart and skeletal muscle. It also is capable of functioning as a neurotransmitter, which is a chemical substance that can send nerve impulses via synapses. There are many different uses and benefits of carnosine.

Functions

• Carnosine is capable of both enhancing cell function and stopping cell damage from occurring (due to beta amyloid, which is found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease). It assists in the chelation of ionic metals and the elimination of toxins from inside of the body. It can boost the immune system. It also can help with the sense of smell.

Glycosylation

• Carnosine is also capable of preventing glycosylation from happening. Glycosylation is a kind of enzymatic procedure that connects DNA molecules and proteins, due to sugar aldehydes encountering with the amino acids of the protein molecule. Preventing glycosylation is helpful for various medical conditions, including eye cataracts, kidney failure, certain skin conditions, diabetes and neuropathy.

Lactic Acid

• Carnosine is also capable of obstructing the accumulation of excess lactic acid in the body. Lactic acid triggers muscle pain after sessions of intense exercise. If this nutritional supplement is taken both before and after rigorous exercise sessions, it is possible that carnosine could decrease (and sometimes even entirely eliminate) this pain.

Eye Drops

• Carnosine is also used to help with senile cataracts. Senile cataracts occur in elderly individuals. They are the most common variety of cataracts, and generally happen with persons over 60 years old. They often cause complete vision loss. Carnosine eye drops work to both deconstruct and inhibit cross-linking of proteins.

Dosage

• Individuals are generally advised to take between 100mg and 300mg of carnosine every day. No more than 600mg should be taken in one day. Taking more than the recommended dosage amount of this nutritional supplement could lead to the undesirable side effect of muscle twitching.