If you need a boost in your overall health, N-acetyl L-carnosine is a popular choice. But what exactly is N-acetyl L-carnosine, and how does it benefit your body? And what does the research show about its role in treating medical conditions, such as cataracts and autism?
Here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about N-acetyl L-carnosine benefits and supplements. We’ll also discuss whether you should add it to your supplement regimen.
What is N-Acetyl L-Carnosine?
N-acetyl L-carnosine is a supplement that provides your body with L-carnosine, an essential antioxidant molecule. Your skeletal muscle, heart muscle and central nervous system have high concentrations of L-carnosine. It’s a vital building block for your body, helping to build powerful muscles and tissues and prevent aging. (x) (x)
As a supplement, N-acetyl L-carnosine may improve your energy levels, boost heart health and prevent cataracts. It has an additional acetyl group bound to L-carnosine. This acetyl group protects the L-carnosine, keeping it from being degraded. It means that N-acetyl L-carnosine is more effective than taking L-carnosine directly. It also makes it more efficient, so you can take a lower dose when supplementing.
Although the body produces L-carnosine naturally, N-acetyl L-carnosine supplements can increase its levels. The supplement is also very safe, and few users experience notable side effects.
Benefits of N-Acetyl L-Carnosine
There are a number of benefits that come from taking N-acetyl L-carnosine. It may be beneficial for your heart health, improve energy levels and prevent cataracts. Here are some of the most notable benefits of using these supplements:
- Cataract Treatment
One of the main uses of N-acetyl L-carnosine is as an eye drop for cataracts, a common vision disorder. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness, and the only effective standard treatment is surgery. Why not take eye drops instead?
Cataracts may occur from oxidative stress in your body. (x) L-carnosine is an antioxidant that may protect the eye, but it cannot penetrate the eye as an eye drop. N-acetyl L-carnosine, however, can penetrate the cornea and reach its cataracts, where it converts to L-carnosine.
And not only can it possibly prevent cataracts, but some research suggests that it could also reverse them. A study that had positive results stressed the importance of having the purest quality of N-acetyl L-carnosine as possible. (x)
If you have cataracts and are considering using N-acetyl L-carnosine, speak to a doctor about different medical options.
- Energy
Athletes often use N-acetyl L-carnosine to increase energy and reduce fatigue. The exact mechanism by which it benefits energy levels is still unknown, but it may relate to acid-base levels in muscles. (x) It may improve your power output and reduce fatigue.
When your muscles are active, they produce high levels of lactic acid, which leads to burning. When converted to L-carnosine, N-acetyl L-carnosine may help neutralize this acid, leading to improved performance and increased energy levels. (x)
- Heart Health
N-acetyl L-carnosine may also have beneficial effects on heart health. Specifically, it may reduce your blood pressure and improve circulation.
The exact role of N-acetyl L-carnosine in reducing blood pressure is still unknown. Studies in rats have shown that, when converted to L-carnosine, it prevents blood pressure from elevating. (x)
N-acetyl L-carnosine also has potent antioxidant effects, which may help prevent cardiovascular disease. (x) L-carnosine is commonly present in heart muscle and is essential for your healthy cell function.
When converted to L-carnosine, it may also help treat fatigue symptoms in patients with heart failure. When patients took L-carnosine for six weeks, they had improved oxygen intake. (x)
Although it may positively affect your heart health, you should not use it as a primary treatment for any cardiac disease. Instead, it would help if you used it as a general health supplement with primary medications.
- Autism
N-acetyl L-carnosine may also have a beneficial effect on children with autism. When given it for eight weeks, which develops into L-carnosine when the body breaks it down, the children with autism showed statistically reduced symptoms and significant improvements. (x)
The mechanism by which L-carnosine benefits children with autism is largely unknown. L-carnosine may improve frontal lobe function, which may enhance neurological function in autism. (x)
- Kidney Health
N-acetyl L-carnosine may have a positive effect on your kidney health. (x) The exact role of L-carnosine in the kidneys is unknown. However, research has shown that the kidneys metabolize L-carnosine, which may be crucial for healthy kidney function.
One should not use it as a primary treatment for kidney disease but as a supplement to other medications. Speak to a doctor before taking it to treat kidney disease.
N-Acetyl L-Carnosine Supplement
N-acetyl L-carnosine is one of the best ways to increase L-carnosine levels in the body. Its effects are similar to what you get from taking L-carnosine, as it converts to L-carnosine in the body. However, it also prevents degradation of the L-carnosine, meaning that your body gets more of the molecule, leading to a more significant therapeutic effect.
N-acetyl L-carnosine powders are the most common form of supplement, but supplements also come as eye drops.
When choosing an N-acetyl L-carnosine supplement, make sure you find a pure version of it. Many brands dilute it with other substances. Although these substances are usually harmless, they affect the dosage and reduce its therapeutic effect.
Side Effects of N-Acetyl L-Carnosine
N-acetyl L-carnosine side effects are usually minor, and most users have few issues with the supplement. However, there are a few common side effects to know:
- Rash and Skin Irritation
Some users have reported rashes after taking the supplement. It’s likely because of an allergic reaction. If you notice a rash or skin irritation after taking it, discontinue the use of the supplement and see if the reaction goes away. If it does not, contact a doctor.
- Dry Mouth
N-acetyl L-carnosine may also cause dry mouth in some users. This side effect is usually relatively minor and may go away with continued use. However, if dry mouth persists, consider reducing the dose or discontinuing the use of the supplement.
- Low Blood Pressure
One of the benefits of taking it is that it could act to lower blood pressure. However, if you already have healthy blood pressure, it could lower it too much.
If you notice that your blood pressure drops after taking it, discontinue the use of the supplement and speak to a doctor. You could also consider taking the supplement at a lower dose and see if your blood pressure returns to a normal level.
- Tiredness
Some users have reported that the supplement causes tiredness. If you notice any symptoms of fatigue after taking it, consider reducing the dose or discontinuing the use of the supplement. If the symptoms don’t go away after you stop taking it, speak to your doctor.
- Appetite Changes
N-acetyl L-carnosine may cause changes in your appetite. It’s usually a fairly minor side effect and may go away as the body adjusts to the supplement. You can also reduce the dose and see if the side effects go away.
Side Effects From Taking It
N-acetyl L-carnosine is generally safe and likely causes few side effects in pregnant women. However, there is little research on its impact on pregnant women. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a doctor about using it.
Dosage for N-Acetyl L-Carnosine
N-acetyl L-carnosine powder doses may vary depending on the medical condition. There is no standard dose for the supplement. A typical starting dose is around 500 mg, once or twice a day.
A group of patients took 500 mg of L-carnosine for heart failure every day for eight weeks in a study. In conclusion, researchers recommended L-carnosine with conventional therapies. The supplement also has positive effects on exercise performance and quality of life for chronic heart failure. (x) However, this version of L-carnosine differs from N-acetyl L-carnosine, so the dose will not be precisely the same.
When given as eye drops, the solution is usually 1 percent N-acetyl L-carnosine. Patients take a few drops for multiple weeks. (x)
Experiment with doses to see what the correct amount is for you. Start with a lower dose and slowly increase, depending on how your body responds to the supplement.
Where to Buy N-Acetyl L-Carnosine Supplements?
You can purchase N-acetyl L-carnosine at BulkSupplements.com. The company is an industry-leading manufacturer and distributor of pure dietary supplements.
BulkSupplements.com is not just a consumer brand. It also supplies pure ingredients to other food and supplement brands to make their products. All products at BulkSupplements.com are manufactured and tested according to current and proper manufacturing practices.
Are you interested in trying N-acetyl L-carnosine supplements for your health, as described in this article? Contact BulkSupplements.com to place an order today.
Why Take It?
There are many different ways to consume L-carnosine. Although many of these methods will give you some therapeutic benefit, enzymes degrade L-carnosine in the body. If you take L-carnosine on its own, you will not get as strong of an effect.
N-acetyl L-carnosine benefits the body by protecting the L-carnosine from degradation. It means that the molecule is free to act as an antioxidant, reducing inflammation and improving heart health.
N-acetyl L-carnosine is also the only form of L-carnosine that may benefit eye health. That’s because L-carnosine alone cannot penetrate the eye. But it can get into the eye, possibly making it an effective treatment for eye conditions such as cataracts.
In addition to treating specific conditions such as cataracts, it may also have a beneficial effect on general health by providing antioxidant activity that helps remove free radicals from the body.
The Bottom Line
N-acetyl L-carnosine is a safe and effective general-use supplement that may boost your energy levels and improve your heart health. You can take it to treat cataracts, and there is some research showing it could have a role in treating symptoms of autism. N-acetyl L-carnosine is also very safe, with few side effects at the proper dose. It also has few interactions with common prescription medications.
Whether you are using N-acetyl L-carnosine to treat cataracts or are simply trying to boost overall health, it is an effective and affordable supplement, making it a significant addition to just about any supplement regimen.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
