Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) is a dipeptide of the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine. It is highly concentrated in muscle and brain tissues.
Some autistics take it as a dietary supplement, and attribute it to a improvement in their condition.
Researchers in Australia, Britain and Russia, have shown that carnosine has a number of antioxidant properties that may be beneficial.
Carnosine has been proven to scavenge ROS (radical oxygen species) as well as alpha-beta unsaturated aldehydes formed from peroxidation of cell membrane fatty acids during oxidative stress. It can oppose glycation and it can chelate divalent metal ions.
In particular, some studies have provided evidence of beneficial effects of N-acetyl carnosine in the treatment of eye cataract.
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