The Science: L-Carnosine

Carnosine is a dipeptide of the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine found in both type 1 and type 2 muscle fibers. Type 2 muscle fibers are primarily used in high intensity strength workouts and are most responsive to muscular growth. There are large deposits of naturally-forming carnosine in both the brain and muscle tissues. NOTE: Carnosine should not be confused with carnitine.

Studies have shown that carnosine has a number of antioxidant properties that can be beneficial. Because of the antiglycator and metal chelator properties, carnosine supplementation has been proposed for both muscle-benfiting and anti-aging solutions.

What L-carnosine actually does

There are a couple different ways carnosine is thought to impact muscle performance, but most primarily it acts as intracellular buffer by soaking of hydrogen ions that are released during exercise. As energy is consumed, H+ ions are produced as waste from the muscles. If not disposed of, these ions accumulate, create lactic acid, and can hinder the muscle's performance. Carnosine, in its buffering role, soaks up these H+ ions. By keeping pH levels at the optimum range, we can prolonging muscle fatigue and allow us to keep a sustained level of performance.