L-Carnosine and L-Carnitine may sound similar in name but these amino acids have different compositions and functions. They both have many health benefits. These health benefits can range from anti-aging properties to supporting healthy immune responses and even increasing your life expectancy.

What is L-Carnosine?

While L-Carnosine and L-Carnitine are composed of amino acids, they are from different ones. Carnosine is made from alanine and histidine.  Functioning as an antioxidant in the brain and nervous system, Carnosine is a chelating agent that removes excess amounts of zinc and copper from in the body. Studies suggest that Carnosine can help to support cataracts and wound healing. It has also been found useful for fighting the aging process.

What Is L-Carnitine?

Carnitine is an amino acid synthesised from lysine and methionine. It burns fat by transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria inside cells, where the fats are converted into energy. It also transports toxic wastes from outside the mitochondria. Carnitine may help to lower pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and the symptoms of an overactive thyroid.

Carnosine and Carnitine also have anti-aging benefits with one study from the March 2011 edition of “PLoS One” indicating it may reduce the accumulation of amyloid tangles that cause Alzheimer’s. They also have cardiovascular benefits with evidence suggesting that carnosine reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and lowering cholesterol. Meanwhile, Carnitine has been found to relieve symptoms of angina and peripheral vascular disease.

Here are some of the main health benefits and differences between L-Carnosine and L-Carnitine…

 

BENEFITS OF L-CARNOSINE

BENEFITS OF L-CARNITINE
  • Made from alanine and histidine
  • Made from lysine and methionine
  • Mostly found in our body’s skeletal muscle tissues, brain and nervous system
  • About 98% of the body’s L-Carnitine stores are found in the muscles, along with trace amounts in the liver and blood
  • Carnosine thins the blood in people whose blood tends to clot too much
  • When administered, L-carnitine is beneficial in treating congestive heart failure in humans
  • Suppresses excess immune responses in those who have “hyper” immune systems
  • Improves the functioning of the immune system by enhancing the ability of macrophages to function as phagocytes
  • Seems to have the ability to normalise brain wave functions
  • Acetyl-L-carnitine has been shown to counteract several mechanisms of brain cell damage
  • Protects cellular proteins from damage and works as an antioxidant to prevent the formation of oxidised sugars also called advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs).
  • L-Carnitine has been shown in studies to protect cells throughout the body against age-related decline in mitochondrial respiratory activity.
  • May help to support cataracts and wound healing
  • Helps to lower pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and an overactive thyroid
  • Increased life expectancy – One recent Russian study on mice shown that those given carnosine are twice as likely to reach their maximum life span as untreated mice
  • Studies show L-Carnitine can suppress the onset of neuromascular degeneration and increase the life span of mice with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Useful for fighting the aging process – Carnosine also significantly reduced the outward “signs of old age” and made the mice look younger
  • Useful for fighting the aging process and has been shown to protect cells throughout the body against age-related degeneration
  • May reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and lower cholesterol
  • Can relieve symptoms of angina and peripheral vascular disease
  • May improve symptoms related to autism. Studies reported that children taking Carnosine supplements experienced improvements in their vocabulary, communication, language comprehension, socialisation, object recognition, awareness of surroundings, fine motor skills and auditory processing
  • Studies supporting Carnitine demonstrated that children with autism had significant improvements in behaviour and communication, according to research published in the November 2002 issue of the “Journal of Child Neurology”.

 

As the chart above demonstrates, L-Carnosine and L-Carnitine play essential roles in promoting good cellular health in the long-term. When comparing the above health benefits between L-Carnosine and L-Carnitine, it’s important to see the differences so you can determine which choice is best for you.

 

Recommended Examples

L-Carnitine Plus CoQ10 – L-Carnitine is used by the body to transprot long-chain fatty acids to the mitochondria in your cells, where they are burned for energy. Without sufficient elements of both components of L-Carnitine and CoQ10, you will be less likely to burn fat efficiently and will have much less energy. May also help to support the fight against free radical damage and prevent the aging process, along with providing organ and cardio benefits. Available from Good Health Naturally.