L-Carnosine | Research and limitations

1 detailed study records

Key findings from detailed records

Population: 22 otherwise healthy adults with overweight or obesity Findings: Resistin differed significantly between groups. Leptin did not reach significance, and adipsin did not differ.

Edited by LÍFSVARÐASources reviewed: 2026-09-21Updated: 2026-10-24Estimated reading time: 6 min

KNOWLEDGE RECORD

Category: Metabolism and cellular function
Last Reviewed: 2026-09-21

Names and related search termsL-Carnosine / L-Carnosine / Carnosine / Carnosine

Study type: small exploratory studies.

Explore 10 papers by research question ↓

OUTCOME-SPECIFIC EVIDENCE

Scientific Evidence Profile

Assessment pending

An outcome-specific assessment has not yet been completed. This is not a finding that the ingredient is ineffective. The study records below remain available.

This profile concerns the stated outcome and population, not the ingredient as a whole. It is not a probability of benefit, a safety rating, a product efficacy rating or an indication of product adoption.

How we assess evidence

Ingredient Profile

What is it?: Carnosine is a dipeptide: beta-alanine joined to histidine. A dipeptide consists of two amino-acid units, rather than a long protein chain. [1]

Sources for this profile

Compound properties and formulation properties are different. These sources do not establish the efficacy of a finished supplement.

PubChem — Carnosine (CID 439224) Chemical identity reference. Maintained by NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Database record; not a clinical trial.

Profile sources checked: 2026-10-11

Read the evidence in context

Evidence: what was measured in the stated population or experimental model.
Inference: an interpretation connecting findings; its applicability depends on the study conditions.
Hypothesis: a proposed explanation or effect that remains to be tested.

Research Evidence · Scientific Synthesis

Why It Matters #

Can changes in metabolic hormones establish an anti-glycation effect? Check the detailed records for study conditions and use the literature map to compare other populations and outcomes.

What Was Studied #

22 otherwise healthy adults with overweight or obesity Additional analysis of a small randomized placebo-controlled trial. Outcomes: Blood resistin, leptin and adipsin. These additional analyses should not be equated with the parent trial's primary outcomes.[1]

What Was Found #

Resistin differed significantly between groups. Leptin did not reach significance, and adipsin did not differ.[1]

What the Evidence Means #

Multiple measures in a small sample. The study did not directly test prevention of AGE-related diseases or long-term health benefits.[1]

Comparing similar populations, formulations, durations and outcomes helps identify where findings agree and where they differ.

What We Can Learn #

Distinguish the proposed anti-glycation effect from the metabolic measures assessed in this study.

What Remains Unknown #

Further questions include reproducibility across populations and formulations, and the long-term balance of benefits and harms. Use the literature map as a starting point for these questions.

LITERATURE MAP / 10 PAPERS

Compare papers by conditions and findings.

A literature map covering different populations, outcomes and formulations. Read alongside detailed records to avoid treating one trial as the conclusion for an entire ingredient.

Selected: 2026-09-21. Bibliographic information checked against Europe PMC / PubMed. Editorial selection considered major papers and a range of populations and questions. This is not a systematic search covering all recent research.

10 RECORDS

A dash marks fields outside the bibliographic record. Use detailed records to compare findings and design records to connect mechanisms.

Research comparison table
Paper and topic	Study conditions	Findings and scope
Metabolism and blood glucoseCarnosine Supplementation Improves Serum Resistin Concentrations in Overweight or Obese Otherwise Healthy Adults: A Pilot Randomized Trial.2018 NutrientsPMID 30205427 #	Study conditions Additional analysis of a small randomized placebo-controlled trial Population 22 participants with available serum samples from a parent trial of 30 adults with overweight or obesity; 13 carnosine and 9 placebo. Dose Carnosine 2 g/day Duration 12 weeks Outcomes Blood resistin, leptin and adipsin. These additional analyses should not be equated with the parent trial's primary outcomes.	Findings and scope Resistin differed significantly between groups. Leptin did not reach significance, and adipsin did not differ. View findings and limitations DOI Authors Baye E, Ukropec J, de Courten MPJ, Mousa A, Kurdiova T, Johnson J et al.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of L-carnosine supplementation in children with autistic spectrum disorders.2002 Journal of child neurologyPMID 12585724 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Chez MG, Buchanan CP, Aimonovitch MC, Becker M, Schaefer K, Black C et al.
Carnosine [corrected] increases efficiency of DOPA therapy of Parkinson's disease: a pilot study.2008 Rejuvenation researchPMID 18729814 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Boldyrev A, Fedorova T, Stepanova M, Dobrotvorskaya I, Kozlova E, Boldanova N et al.
Carnosine treatment for gulf war illness: a randomized controlled trial.2013 Global journal of health sciencePMID 23618477 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Baraniuk JN, El-Amin S, Corey R, Rayhan R, Timbol C
l-Carnosine supplementation attenuated fasting glucose, triglycerides, advanced glycation end products, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.2018 Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)PMID 29420997 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Houjeghani S, Kheirouri S, Faraji E, Jafarabadi MA
A preliminary, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of L-carnosine to improve cognition in schizophrenia.2012 Schizophrenia researchPMID 23099060 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Chengappa KN, Turkin SR, DeSanti S, Bowie CR, Brar JS, Schlicht PJ et al.
The effect of 12 weeks carnosine supplementation on renal functional integrity and oxidative stress in pediatric patients with diabetic nephropathy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.2018 Pediatric diabetesPMID 28744992 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Elbarbary NS, Ismail EAR, El-Naggar AR, Hamouda MH, El-Hamamsy M
Effects of oral administration of orodispersible levo-carnosine on quality of life and exercise performance in patients with chronic heart failure.2015 Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)PMID 25287762 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Lombardi C, Carubelli V, Lazzarini V, Vizzardi E, Bordonali T, Ciccarese C et al.
L-Carnosine protects against Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients: A perspective on targeting Nrf-2 and NF-κB pathways.2019 Toxicology and applied pharmacologyPMID 30592963 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Yehia R, Saleh S, El Abhar H, Saad AS, Schaalan M
Effects of l-Carnosine Supplementation on Sleep Disorders and Disease Severity in Autistic Children: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.2018 Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicologyPMID 29430839 #	Study conditions —	Findings and scope — Open original paper DOI Authors Mehrazad-Saber Z, Kheirouri S, Noorazar SG

The literature map is an index of research questions and references. Individual assessment of results, doses, funding and COI is limited to the detailed study records. Related reports from the same trial may be included; paper counts are not counts of independent trials.

Explore the research Study Records

Listed doses describe study conditions, not recommended intake.

Study RecordPMID 30205427

Carnosine Supplementation Improves Serum Resistin Concentrations in Overweight or Obese Otherwise Healthy Adults: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

PubMed 30205427 DOI: 10.3390/nu10091258

Authors: Baye E, Ukropec J, de Courten MPJ, Mousa A, Kurdiova T, Johnson J, Wilson K, Plebanski M, Aldini G, Ukropcova B, de Courten B.
Journal: Nutrients
Publication year: 2018
Study design: Additional analysis of a small randomized placebo-controlled trial
Participants: 22 participants with available serum samples from a parent trial of 30 adults with overweight or obesity; 13 carnosine and 9 placebo.
Dose and intervention: Carnosine 2 g/day
Duration: 12 weeks
Outcomes and their role in the study: Blood resistin, leptin and adipsin. These additional analyses should not be equated with the parent trial's primary outcomes.
Findings: Resistin differed significantly between groups. Leptin did not reach significance, and adipsin did not differ.
Limitations: Multiple measures in a small sample. The study did not directly test prevention of AGE-related diseases or long-term health benefits.
Funding: Slovak research grants, Australian research organizations and others. Flamma S.p.A supplied carnosine.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Ingredient supply is recorded separately.
Scope of source review: Relevant methods, results and disclosures checked on 2026-10-24. The parent trial is doi:10.1002/oby.21434; this report is an additional analysis, not an independent replication.

Cite this page

LÍFSVARÐA. L-Carnosine: Can changes in metabolic hormones establish an anti-glycation effect? Version 1.1 / Updated 2026-10-24

https://lifsvarda.com/knowledge/carnosine/

Edited by LÍFSVARÐA (product brand).Editorial policy

Sources and updates

Baye E, Ukropec J, de Courten MPJ, Mousa A, Kurdiova T, Johnson J, Wilson K, Plebanski M, Aldini G, Ukropcova B, de Courten B. (2018). Carnosine Supplementation Improves Serum Resistin Concentrations in Overweight or Obese Otherwise Healthy Adults: A Pilot Randomized Trial.Relevant methods, results and disclosures checked on 2026-10-24. The parent trial is doi:10.1002/oby.21434; this report is an additional analysis, not an independent replication.

First published: 2026-09-21 / Version 1.1. Updated 2026-09-23: Added a research comparison table and links to design records. Source notes identify the scope of verification when the full paper has not been reviewed. Research summaries and LÍFSVARÐA’s interpretation are distinguished.

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