l-Carnosine
CAM (antioxidant, antiinflammatory, modulates glutamate, serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine)
- Major Depression3
- Cognition3
- Schizophrenia negative symptoms3
- ADHD3
- OCD3
- Ineffective: Autism
Features
Dosing
400-500 mg bid (as capsule or powder)
Children: Can use adult dosing or 10-15 mg/kg daily, divided bid
$10-20/mth.
Management
l-Carnosine is only supported by small randomized trials. Do not confuse it with l-carnitine (acetyl-l-carnitine) which has different effects.
TOLERABILITY: None.
RISKS: None.
MEDICAL BENEFITS: Age-related memory loss, antiaging, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, nephropathy. Athletes and vegetarians take it to improve muscle performance (it is found in chicken and beef.
EMR Text
Depression
l-Carnosine use based on a randomized controlled trial in major depressive disorder (Araminia B et al, J Affect Disord. 2020;267:131-136).
l-Carnosine side effects reviewed with patient.
Schizophrenia
l-Carnosine use based on randomized controlled trials in negative symptoms of schizophrenia (Tharoor H et al, Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2023;11(2):e01074).
l-Carnosine side effects reviewed with patient.
ADHD
l-Carnosine use based on a randomized controlled trial in ADHD (Ghajar A et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2018;28(5):331-338.
l-Carnosine side effects reviewed with patient.