The Antioxidative Effects of SR CarnoSyn®
A powerful antioxidant, carnosine can impact a variety of the body’s systems. The antioxidative effects of elevated carnosine levels have potentially interesting effects on health. Oxidative stress is part of the pathology associated with several health challenges. One animal study found that L-carnosine supplementation can increase antioxidant activity, decrease lipid peroxidation in the serum, liver, and skin, and positively modify blood lipid profiles.1 Carnosine was shown to increase survival and significantly ameliorate pathological lung conditions including lesions in lungs in another animal study.2
Physical Benefits
Immune support is far from a winter-specific concern for many consumers. Rather, consumers rightly connect immune health with general health and wellness, and thus are increasingly interested in supporting a balanced immune response as an important part of systemic system protection.
Elevated carnosine levels resulting from beta-alanine supplementation have been shown to have antioxidant properties, which have many positive health benefits in the body. In one clinical study,3 20 soldiers from an elite combat unit were randomly assigned to either beta-alanine or placebo for seven days between two intensive periods of training. During the second training, after receiving supplementation, the beta-alanine group displayed greater serum concentrations of an anti-inflammatory marker, showing that beta-alanine supplementation supports a healthy immune system.
Increases in carnosine levels within various body tissues from beta-alanine supplementation have also been shown to contribute to overall immune health in various animal models of post-traumatic stress,4 mild traumatic brain injury,5 and heat stress.6
Mental Benefits
Beta-alanine and carnosine seem to consistently be associated with an improved outlook that is coupled with reduced feelings of occasional, everyday anxiety. A recent paper was conducted in college-age students, who were provided with beta-alanine for two weeks.7 Students who received beta-alanine supplementation experienced significant reductions in subjective feelings of occasional depression. In another study that provided more than 100 adults with a soft drink containing carnosine, it was reported that the consumption of one bottle a day for four weeks resulted in significant reductions in feelings of intermittent depression compared to those adults consuming a placebo drink.8
These data demonstrate beta-alanine plays an important role in healthy, balanced immune responses to various stressors and thus support overall systemic protection.
REFERENCES
1Kim MY et al. “Effects of alpha-lipoic acid and l-carnosine supplementation on antioxidant activities and lipid profiles in rats.” Nutrition Research and Practice, vol. 5, no. 5 (October 2011): 421-428
2Xu T et al. “Carnosine markedly ameliorates H9N2 swine influenza virus-induced acute lung injury.” Journal of General Virology, vol. 96, part 10 (October 2015): 2939-2950
3Hoffman, JR et al. “Effect of high dose, short-duration β-alanine supplementation on circulating IL-10 concentrations during intense military training.” The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 32, no. 10 (October 2018): 2978-2981
4Hoffman JR et al. “β-Alanine supplemented diets enhance behavioral resilience to stress exposure in an animal model of PTSD.” Amino Acids. 2015; 47:1247-1257.
5Hoffman JR et al. “Behavioral and inflammatory response in animals exposed to a low-pressure blast wave and supplemented with β-alanine.” Amino Acids, vol. 49 (2017): 871-886
6Hoffman JR et al. “The effect of β-alanine supplementation on the heat shock protein, inflammatory and neurotrophin response in animals exposed to an acute heat stress.” Presenting American Society of Nutrition. Seattle, WA. May/June 2020
7Varanoske AN et al. “The effects of high-dose, short-duration β-alanine supplementation on cognitive function, mood, and circulating brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in recreationally-active males before simulated military operational stress.” Journal of Dietary Supplements, (March 6, 2020): 1-22. [Epub ahead of print]
8Shirotsuki K et al. “Brief internet-based cognitive behavior therapy program with a supplement drink improved anxiety and somatic symptoms in Japanese workers.” BioPsychoSocial Medicine, vol 11 (September 2017)
