The Use of Anti-Glycation Agent Carnosine In Anti-Aging Topical Skin Care Products

Carnosine is an aqueous antioxidant amino acid dipeptide (comprising alanine and histidine) found in muscle tissue. Carnosine acts as an antiglycation and anti-aging agent. Scientific studies show that Carnosine is effective against all forms of protein denaturation, a key factor in the aging process.

Carnosine is a combination of two important amino acids, beta-alanine and L-histidine. It occurs naturally in the human body (mainly in muscle) and can also be found in many animals. Carnosine is easily broken down into beta-alanine and L-histidine, but the remarkable thing is that these two amino acids now work much more efficiently than they would have done if they hadn’t combined to form L-Carnosine in the first place! While still combined together as L-Carnosine it has the unique ability to rejuvenate cells i.e. to make old cells younger and extend their life-cycle. L-Carnosine is the only compound commercially available that possesses this very rare and unique ability.

Research in the 80s demonstrated that applying carnosine to wounds accelerated healing by reacting with damaged proteins, which may be a sign of aging cells.

Carnosine is an agent which addresses oxidation, inflammation and glycation of tissues by AGEs (advanced glycation end-products). AGEs are molecules which may be just as important as free radicals in initiating the pathological processes associated with aging skin. Reducing glycation — a chemical process in which sugar binds to proteins such as collagen and elastin — may slow skin aging.

Carnosine is a valuable dietry anti-aging supplements. It is also used in the anti-aging topical skin care products.