L-Carnosine Improves Metabolic Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes

by | Feb 27, 2018 | 2018, Amino Acids, Diabetes, Pancreatic Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Supplementing daily with 500 mg of L-carnosine significantly improved glycemic control and fat-free mass while significantly decreasing inflammation, fat mass and triglycerides in the intervention group in comparison to placebo.

diabetesAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs), harmful compounds consisting of proteins or lipids that are exposed to sugar and high temperature levels, play a critical role in aging and the worsening of degenerative diseases like diabetes. When AGEs interact with the receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs), oxidative stress is systemically increased and alterations in cell structure and function take place. In fact, the binding of AGEs to RAGE, associated with endothelial dysfunction, low-grade inflammation, and insulin resistance 1, are now recognized as playing a role in the complications associated with diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that L-carnosine, a naturally occurring molecule composed of two amino acids, may protect against diabetes due to its ability to neutralize toxic compounds and influence glycemic control 2. Among the physiological properties associated with L-carnosine are its antioxidant and pH buffering activity 3,4 and its capacity to protect against the formation of advanced glycation and its end products 5. In studies conducted with patients with metabolic syndrome and those with high fasting blood sugar, L-carnosine appears to improve glycemic control and prevent development of Type 2 diabetes 6,7. In a trial published in Nutrition Research 8, Iranian researchers at Tabriz University investigated the impact of L-carnosine on Type 2 diabetes risk factors, examining the effects of supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profile, AGEs level, and inflammation in diabetic patients.

A total of 54 patients with Type 2 diabetes (aged 30 to 60 years) participated in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Anthropometric measurements, as well as physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), blood pressure, and food intake (food record questionnaire) were obtained at baseline and following intervention, and subjects were randomized to receive either two 500 mg capsules of carnosine or matching placebo capsules daily for 12 weeks. At pre- and post-intervention, fasting blood samples were collected to analyze fasting glucose, insulin resistance, lipid profile, and other inflammatory biomarkers.

Analyses yielded the following key findings for the carnosine group, in comparison to placebo:

  • A significant 1.5% decrease in fat mass and 1.7% increase in fat-free mass (p < 0.05)
  • A significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (13.1 mg/dL), glycated hemoglobin (0.6%), serum levels of triglycerides (29.8 mg/dL), carboxymethyl lysine (AGE, 91.8 ng/mL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (an inflammatory cytokine) (p < 0.05)

Individuals treated with L-carnosine also demonstrated a significant decrease in serum pentosidine levels (AGE, 2.8 ng/mL) from baseline to post-intervention (p < 0.05).

Collectively, results support the capacity of L-carnosine to markedly reduce body fat mass, increase fat-free mass, and in general, improve cardiometabolic profile (decreasing serum glucose levels and low-grade inflammation). Supplementation with L-carnosine may offer a relatively simple and affordable means of improving blood sugar control in diabetic patients and with its critical anti-glycating activity, has potential applications for other chronic diseases involving inflammation.

Source: Houjeghani S, Kheirouri S, Faraji E, et al. 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. Nutrition Research. 2018; 49: 96-106. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2017.11.003.

0271-5317/© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted February 27, 2018.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

References:

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