Carnosine provide broad-range cellular protection to fight vascular injury and extend lifespan

Monday, May 28, 2012 by: John Phillip
Tags: carnosine, longevity, supplement

(NaturalNews) Most allopathic medical practitioners would argue that the process of aging is nothing more than a normal process whereby cells deteriorate at a predetermined rate controlled by genetically determined commands and heredity. Standing in stark opposition is a rapidly growing body of research and documented evidence to indicate that aging is a product of many varied lifestyle choices including physical activity, smoking, and most importantly, the type of diet we regularly consume.

In addition to being a potent cellular antioxidant, carnosine exhibits a number of other unique capabilities that help limit glycation (the abnormal linking of proteins with glucose or lipids) to prevent injury to tissues and organ structures. These actions improve cardiovascular performance to protect against stroke, heart disease, dementia, and increased susceptibility to cancer. Researchers publishing in the journal, Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry demonstrates that carnosine from supplements can help protect against a first stroke, and can significantly lower the damage caused by stroke.

Researchers have demonstrated that carnosine is particularly effective in providing multi-targeted protection to the heart and blood vessels through age-inducing processes such as oxidation, glycation, protein cross-linking, mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere shortening, and heavy metal accumulation in tissues. Carnosine protects against ischemia or loss of blood flow to the heart muscle, preventing the devastating effect of reduced blood flow that leads to a heart attack.

Carnosine binds with zinc in the brain to prevent abnormal accumulation and amyloid tangles

A study team from the University of Glasgow in Scotland has released the result of their study in the journal Biochemistry to explain the importance of carnosine in the development and progression of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in aging adults. They noticed that dementia patients displayed lower levels of carnosine in their brains and spinal fluid than those of other older adults, and found that the condition results from multiple factors, virtually all of which have some connection to carnosine and its function in the brain.

The researchers demonstrated that those parts of the brain that are first affected in early Alzheimer's disease are the same in which carnosine is normally found in the highest concentrations. As carnosine levels fall with age, those brain areas become the most vulnerable to Alzheimer's-related damage. Carnosine is known to bind with zinc in the brain, ushering them away from delicate tissues and preventing abnormal accumulation. Supplementation in known to increase blood levels and cellular saturation to halt protein cross-linking and the characteristic neurofibrillary tangles so frequently associated with the disease.

A growing number of forward-thinking scientists refer to carnosine as an "anti-aging dipeptide", capable of defending against cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, cognitive decline, and dementia. Carnosine is readily available from high protein animal dietary sources including milk, eggs, cheese, beef, poultry, and pork. Most health-minded individuals avoid these food sources for health and ethical reasons, and will want to supplement (500 to 1,000 mg per day) to shield against vascular disease and abnormal cellular aging.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21865855
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10951098
http://www.lef.org

About the author:
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.