Dr. Marios Kyriazis is considered to be an expert on carnosine and has been actively involved in its research over the last few years.

We are sometimes asked why we don’t suggest high doses of Carnosine; well over and above the 50-150mg per day recommended. It has been suggested that only mega doses of Carnosine (i.e. 1000mg+ ) can avoid degradation by carnisinases and that only mega dosages get results. Dr. Kyriazis answered this very question. Dr. Kyriazis joins with the other scientists behind Carnosine, including Dr. Hipkiss who believe that some of the benefits of carnosine are derived AFTER carnosine has been degraded by carnisinases to produce histidine and alanine, therefore degradation may be a good thing.

Dr. Kyriazis has conducted a trial with Carnosine to show that even low dosages are effective.

Carnosine can reduce urinary MDA concentration
    by Marios Kyriazis, MD

Introduction

MDA (Malondialdehyde) is a free radical produced during lipid peroxidation and can contribute to protein modification (or cross-linking). Carnosine is believed to protect against MDA-induced damage. In this paper, this premise is used to help establish an ideal dose of Carnosine for anti-aging purposes in humans.

Patients and Methods

Twelve healthy volunteers (5 males, 7 females) aged 40-75 took part in this study. Oral carnosine  was introduced and withdrawn at weekly intervals and at variable doses. The results were studied using the Free Radical Test Kit (Vespro Limited) which measures urinary MDA using a colorimetric method. The subjects varied their Carnosine intake at weekly intervals but continued using their existing supplements uninterrupted throughout the trial period.

Results

These are shown in Figure 1. Dosages as low as 50mg of Carnosine were found to be effective in reducing urinary MDA concentration. There is a wide variation in values but a clearer picture becomes evident from studying the mean values. These show a decline in urinary MDA with increasing Carnosine dosage.

Figure One

Discussion

The study is limited by the small numbers of subjects and by the difficulty in establishing exact values of MDA, however two conclusions appear clear:

1.       The assertion that at least 1000mg of Carnosine needs to be taken daily in order to by-pass Carnosine degradation does not seem to hold true on this occasion.

2.       The ideal dose of Carnosine seems to be around 100mg to 200mg daily, preferably taken in association with other anti-oxidants.

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Double-Blind, placebo-controlled Study of L-carnosine supplementation in children with autistic spectrum disorder

Michael G. Chez, M.D., Cathleen P. Buchanan, Ph.D.,
Jamie L. Komen, M.A., Marina Becker, R.N.

Objective: L-Carnosine is an amino acid dipeptide that may enhance frontal lobe function.  We therefore sought to investigate whether L-Carnosine supplementation for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) results in observable, objective changes in language and/or behavior in contrast to placebo. 

Design/Methods: Thirty-one children (21 M, mean age= 7.45; range = 3.2-12.5 yrs )meeting inclusion criteria were enrolled in an 8 week blinded trial of either 400 mg BID powdered L-Carnosine or placebo. Children were assessed at a pediatric neurology clinic with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS), the Expressive and Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary tests (E/ROWPVT), and biweekly parental Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI), at baseline and 8 week endpoint.

Results: Children who were on placebo (n=17) did not show statistically significant changes on any of the outcome measures. After 8 weeks on L-Carnosine, children (n=14) showed statistically significant improvements on the GARS total score, GARS Behavior, Socialization, and Communication subscales, and the ROWPVT (all p’s<.05). EOWPVT and CARS showed trends in improvements, which were supported by parental CGI.

Conclusions: Oral supplementation with L-Carnosine resulted in demonstrable improvements in autistic behaviors as well as increases in language comprehension that reached statistical significance.  Although the mechanism of action of the amino acid is not well understood, it is believed that it acts to modulate neurotransmission and affect metal ion transfer of zinc and copper in the entorhinal cortex. This may enhance neurological function or act in a neuroprotective fashion.