Peptides / Skin and hair

Natural peptide · 2 amino acids · 226.2 Da

L-carnosine

L-carnosine is a natural dipeptide of beta-alanine and histidine, used in supplements and skin products, with no drug approval found. Studies in people tested it on memory, blood sugar, exercise and inflammation, and tracked side effects. PepBank shows 216 results on L-carnosine from 36 studies in people, and 987 from animal and lab studies. The strongest evidence is a randomized trial in people. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as Ignotine, carnosine, beta-alanyl-L-histidine

2 amino acids, from first to lastXH

Evidence level: Some studies in people216 of 1,203 results come from studies in people.

Results in people

216

18% of 1,203 results

Results in animals

842

70% of 1,203 results

Results in lab cells

145

12% of 1,203 results

From computer models

0% of 1,203 results

Overview

L-carnosine at a glance

What it is	Natural peptide, 2 amino acids
Approval	Regulatory status not recorded
In sport	Status unknown
Studies	202 studies with results. 182 of them gave L-carnosine, with 1,203 results. 216 in people842 in animals145 in lab cells
Best study in people	Randomized controlled trial with 100 people (2023)
Clinical trials	2 registered: 0 active or planned, 1 with posted results
Community use	Topical cosmetic products marketed for skin aging

The science

What is L-carnosine?

A beta-alanine–histidine dipeptide used in supplements and topical cosmetics.

Amino acids in one chain

The history of L-carnosine

1982
The oldest paper on L-carnosine in PepBank is from 1982.
2016October
A registered trial of L-carnosine started (NCT02917928).

L-carnosine structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Sequence, 2 amino acidsFrom the first amino acid to the last

X1H

Darker means more water-repelling+ and − show charge in the bodyOutlined: changed amino acid

Structure

L-carnosine is a natural peptide of 2 amino acids, with no ring, 1 changed amino acid.

Formula

C₉H₁₄N₄O₃

Molecular weight

226.2 g/mol

CAS number

305-84-0

Target

Angiotensin-converting enzyme

Development

Highest phase: phase 2.

Identifiers

PubChem 439224, ChEMBL CHEMBL242948, UNII 8HO6PVN24W, DrugBank DB11695, KEGG C00386, IUPHAR 4559

Full sequence, SMILES and InChIKey

Three-letter sequence
beta-Ala-L-His

InChIKey
CQOVPNPJLQNMDC-ZETCQYMHSA-N

SMILES
C1=C(NC=N1)C[C@@H](C(=O)O)NC(=O)CCN

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

The evidence

What L-carnosine studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Some studies in people216 of 1,203 results come from studies in people.

Mood, stress and behavior

22 results · 21 in people · 1 animal

In people with stable schizophrenia receiving risperidone, depression scores and changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo. Psychiatry research, 2018

Top results

In people with stable schizophrenia receiving risperidone, depression scores and changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo. (Psychiatry research, 2018)
In schizophrenia, L‑carnosine did not significantly change negative symptoms versus placebo at study completion. (Pharmacology research & perspectives, 2023)
In children receiving methylphenidate, parent-rated total scores showed a time-by-treatment interaction with carnosine versus placebo. (Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 2018)

Memory and thinking

34 results · 20 in people · 14 animal

In schizophrenia, attention scores differed with L‑carnosine versus placebo at study completion; the result sentence does not specify direction. Pharmacology research & perspectives, 2023

Top results

In schizophrenia, attention scores differed with L‑carnosine versus placebo at study completion; the result sentence does not specify direction. (Pharmacology research & perspectives, 2023)
In adults with prediabetes or controlled diabetes, Stroop scores did not differ between carnosine and placebo. (Pharmaceuticals, 2025)
In participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine improved overall cognitive speed versus placebo at the first follow-up. (Neurotherapeutics, 2025)

Blood sugar

33 results · 16 in people · 17 animal

In children with diabetic nephropathy, carnosine reduced HbA1c compared with placebo. Pediatric diabetes, 2018

Top results

In children with diabetic nephropathy, carnosine reduced HbA1c compared with placebo. (Pediatric diabetes, 2018)
In people with type 2 diabetes, carnosine reduced fasting glucose by 13.1 mg/dL compared with placebo. (Nutrition research, 2018)
In adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine lowered glucose at 90 minutes compared with placebo. (Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases, 2024)

Daily life and fitness

31 results · 16 in people · 14 animal · 1 lab

In adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change hand grip strength compared with placebo. Nutrients, 2024

Top results

In adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change hand grip strength compared with placebo. (Nutrients, 2024)
In Gulf War illness, carnosine did not improve fatigue. (Global journal of health science, 2013)
In participants with prediabetes or controlled diabetes, quality of life did not change significantly compared with placebo or baseline. (Food science & nutrition, 2026)

Weight and appetite

36 results · 15 in people · 21 animal

In autistic children, carnosine did not significantly change plasma glycation products compared with placebo. Annals of clinical biochemistry, 2019

Top results

In autistic children, carnosine did not significantly change plasma glycation products compared with placebo. (Annals of clinical biochemistry, 2019)
In people with type 2 diabetes, carnosine reduced fat mass by 1.5% compared with placebo. (Nutrition research, 2018)
In adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change body fat percentage compared with placebo. (Nutrients, 2024)

Heart and blood vessels

34 results · 15 in people · 18 animal · 1 lab

In people with type 2 diabetes, systolic blood pressure did not differ significantly between carnosine and placebo after adjustment. Nutrition research, 2018

Top results

In people with type 2 diabetes, systolic blood pressure did not differ significantly between carnosine and placebo after adjustment. (Nutrition research, 2018)
In patients with well-controlled prediabetes or T2DM, carnosine had no effect on blood vessel lining function versus placebo. (Nutrients, 2023)
In patients with well-controlled prediabetes or T2DM, carnosine had no effect on heart rate versus placebo. (Nutrients, 2023)

All 202 L-carnosine studies by area Open the Scientific page

Key L-carnosine studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

People
Cognitive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia with L-Carnosine adjuvant therapy - A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study
Tharoor et al. 2023 · Pharmacology research & perspectives · 100 people · cited by 10
2 results
People
l-Carnosine As an Adjunctive Therapy to Risperidone in Children with Autistic Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Hajizadeh-Zaker et al. 2018 · Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology · 70 people · cited by 27
7 results
People
Effect of Oral carnosine supplementation on urinary TGF-β in diabetic nephropathy: a randomized controlled trial
Siriwattanasit et al. 2021 · BMC nephrology · 40 people · cited by 15
6 results
People
Carnosine supplementation improves glucose control in adults with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial
Hariharan et al. 2024 · Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD · 43 people · cited by 27
5 results
People
The Effect of Carnosine Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Health in Adults with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Saadati et al. 2024 · Nutrients · 43 people · cited by 3
8 results

All 202 L-carnosine studies

L-carnosine clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 2 trials of L-carnosine. 0 are active or planned, and 1 has posted results. PepBank does not show trial results.

Solid bars are dates that happened. Hatched bars are planned dates. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

The Potential of Carnosine Supplementation in Optimising Cardiometabolic Health

Phase 2status unknown40 planned

Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT Trial)

Not applicablecompleted299 people

Status and safety

Is L-carnosine approved?

FDA

United States

Status unknown

Status unknown.

EMA

European Union

Status unknown

Status unknown.

WADA

Sport

Not recorded

Status unknown.

Regulatory status not recorded. Status unknown.

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

L-carnosine side effects and safety

PepBank has 34 safety results from studies of L-carnosine. 20 of them come from studies in people.

Safety results from studies (34)

In adults with schizophrenia, adverse events were more frequent with L‑carnosine than placebo. (Schizophrenia research, 2012)
In children with autism receiving risperidone, movement symptom scores and changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo. (Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 2018)
In people with stable schizophrenia receiving risperidone, movement symptom scores remained constant in both carnosine and placebo groups. (Psychiatry research, 2018)
In patients receiving citalopram for depression, side-effect frequency did not differ significantly between added L‑carnosine and placebo. (Journal of affective disorders, 2020)
In children receiving methylphenidate, side effect frequency did not differ significantly between carnosine and placebo. (Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 2018)
In children with diabetic nephropathy, the study reported no adverse reactions due to carnosine. (Pediatric diabetes, 2018)
In patients with diabetic kidney disease, both carnosine and placebo were well tolerated without serious side effects. (BMC nephrology, 2021)
In participants, neither the carnosine arm nor the placebo arm reported adverse reactions. (Amino acids, 2024)
In healthy volunteers, carnosine at 5 g twice daily for 4 weeks produced no adverse events. (Nutrients, 2025)
In children with autism receiving risperidone, other side effects did not differ significantly between carnosine and placebo. (Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 2018)
In people with stable schizophrenia receiving risperidone, other side effects did not differ significantly between carnosine and placebo. (Psychiatry research, 2018)
In participants, carnosine did not change kidney function compared with placebo. (Amino acids, 2024)
In participants, carnosine did not change liver function compared with placebo. (Amino acids, 2024)
In participants, carnosine did not change heart function compared with placebo. (Amino acids, 2024)
In participants, carnosine did not change blood electrolytes compared with placebo. (Amino acids, 2024)
In healthy volunteers, oral carnosine was safe and well tolerated up to 10 g. (Nutrients, 2025)
In healthy volunteers, 77% experienced side effects with 15 g carnosine. (Nutrients, 2025)
In healthy volunteers, headache occurred in 43.5% with 15 g carnosine. (Nutrients, 2025)
In healthy volunteers, nausea occurred in 21.7% with 15 g carnosine. (Nutrients, 2025)
In healthy volunteers, paraesthesia occurred in 21.7% with 15 g carnosine. (Nutrients, 2025)
In diabetic rats treated with carnosine, retinal photoreceptor numbers decreased. (Cellular physiology and biochemistry, 2011)
In rats with stroke, carnosine safety assessments found no evidence of adverse effects or toxicity. (Stroke, 2013)
In mice given bleomycin, carnosine reduced mortality compared with wild-type mice. (American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 2007)
In rats, carnosine reduced deaths after ischemia compared with untreated rats. (The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 2000)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (40 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
400 mg for 3 months, then 800 mg from week 13	Human	human	Not reported	24 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 100	Tharoor 2023
800 mg/day in 2 divided doses	Human	human	Not reported	10 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 70	Hajizadeh-Zaker 2018
2 g/day	Human	human	oral	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 40	Siriwattanasit 2021
2 g daily	Human	human	Not reported	14 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 43	Hariharan 2024
2 g/day	Human	human	Not reported	14 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 43	Saadati 2024
2 g daily	Human	human	Not reported	14 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 42	Hariharan 2025
2 g/day	Human	human	Not reported	14 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 41	Saadati 2024
2g daily	Human	human	oral	approximately 6wk	Randomized trial in people	O'Toole 2025
2 g per day	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 299	O'Toole 2026
1 g/day	Human	human	oral	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 90	Elbarbary 2018
2 g/day	Human	human	Not reported	3 months	Randomized trial in people · n = 75	Chengappa 2012
2 gr/day in two divided doses	Human	human	Not reported	eight weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 60	Ghajar 2018
2 capsules, 500 mg each	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 54	Houjeghani 2018
400 mg twice daily	Human	human	Not reported	six weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 52	Araminia 2020
800 mg/d in two divided doses	Human	human	Not reported	8 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 50	Ghajar 2018
2 g/day	Human	human	Not reported	14 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 49	Saadati 2023
500 mg/day	Human	human	Not reported	2 months	Randomized trial in people · n = 43	Mehrazad-Saber 2018
500 mg daily	Human	human	Not reported	two months	Randomized trial in people · n = 36	Ghodsi 2019
2 g daily	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 30	de 2016
1 g twice daily	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 26	Baye 2019
500, 1000, and 1500 mg increasing at 4 week intervals	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 25	Baraniuk 2013
2 g	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 22	Baye 2018
2 g/day	Human	human	oral	6 or 12 weeks	Randomized trial in people	Baba 2024
60 mg/kg body wt	Human	human	oral	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 25	Everaert 2012
20 mg/kg body wt	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 12	Baguet 2014
2 g/day	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 12	Schön 2023
25 mg/kg	Human	human	oral	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 5	Blancquaert 2021
5 g twice daily	Human	human	oral	4 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 4	Ali 2025
800 mg daily	Human	human	Not reported	8 weeks	Trial in people without random groups	Chez 2002
2 g/day	Human	human	oral	twelve weeks	Trial in people without random groups	Regazzoni 2016
up to 10 g	Human	human	oral	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups	Ali 2025
15 g	Human	human	oral	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups	Ali 2025
2 g/day	Human	human	oral	8 weeks	Reports of single patients · n = 3	Zanini 2020
2 g/day	Human	human	oral	8 weeks	Reports of single patients · n = 3	Ostojic 2020
500 mg/kg diet	Animal	chicken	dietary	d 1 to d 35	Study in live animals · n = 1,080	Askri 2025
25, 50 or 100 mg carnosine per kg diet	Animal	pig	oral	8 weeks	Study in live animals · n = 72	Ma 2010
400 mg/kg diet	Animal	sheep	dietary	60 days	Study in live animals · n = 60	Meng 2024
50 mg/kg	Animal	rat	intraperitoneal	Not reported	Study in live animals · n = 30	Iyiol 2026
1 mg/kg/day	Animal	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study in live animals · n = 20	Ozel 2010
50 mumol/min	Animal	dog	infusion	Not reported	Study in live animals · n = 19	Cianciaruso 1985

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

The cited source reports this use. The report does not establish clinical efficacy or safety.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

Topical cosmetic products marketed for skin agingS1

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for L-carnosine. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
Topical cosmetic products marketed for skin aging	Not stated	0.1 to 0.5 % per formulation	Not stated	Not stated	Single source. The source carries commercial or referral links. Its underlying reports were not independently confirmed.	S1

Community sources

S1Carnosine cosmetic ingredient guidedermapproved.comcarries seller links, not linked

Gaps

The source does not establish product identity, independent outcomes or a safe regimen.

Questions and more

Ask a question about L-carnosine

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about L-carnosine?Is L-carnosine tested in people?Compare with Difelikefalin Compare with Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8)

Sources

Database: PepBank data for L-carnosine (data version 308560)
Regulator: FDA status record
Regulator: WADA status record
Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov
Community: community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about L-carnosine

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L-carnosine

Also known as Ignotine, carnosine, beta-alanyl-L-histidine

What it is

Natural peptide, 2 amino acids

Approval

Regulatory status not recorded

In sport

Status unknown

Studies

202 studies with results. 182 of them gave L-carnosine, with 1,203 results.
216 in people842 in animals145 in lab cells

Best study in people

Randomized controlled trial with 100 people (2023)

Clinical trials

2 registered: 0 active or planned, 1 with posted results

Community use

Topical cosmetic products marketed for skin aging

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

400 mg for 3 months, then 800 mg from week 13

Human

human

Not reported

24 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 100

Tharoor 2023

800 mg/day in 2 divided doses

Human

human

Not reported

10 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 70

Hajizadeh-Zaker 2018

2 g/day

Human

human

oral

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 40

Siriwattanasit 2021

2 g daily

Human

human

Not reported

14 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 43

Hariharan 2024

2 g/day

Human

human

Not reported

14 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 43

Saadati 2024

2 g daily

Human

human

Not reported

14 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 42

Hariharan 2025

2 g/day

Human

human

Not reported

14 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 41

Saadati 2024

2g daily

Human

human

oral

approximately 6wk

Randomized trial in people

O'Toole 2025

2 g per day

Human

human

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 299

O'Toole 2026

1 g/day

Human

human

oral

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 90

Elbarbary 2018

2 g/day

Human

human

Not reported

3 months

Randomized trial in people · n = 75

Chengappa 2012

2 gr/day in two divided doses

Human

human

Not reported

eight weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 60

Ghajar 2018

2 capsules, 500 mg each

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 54

Houjeghani 2018

400 mg twice daily

Human

human

Not reported

six weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 52

Araminia 2020

800 mg/d in two divided doses

Human

human

Not reported

8 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 50

Ghajar 2018

2 g/day

Human

human

Not reported

14 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 49

Saadati 2023

500 mg/day

Human

human

Not reported

2 months

Randomized trial in people · n = 43

Mehrazad-Saber 2018

500 mg daily

Human

human

Not reported

two months

Randomized trial in people · n = 36

Ghodsi 2019

2 g daily

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 30

de 2016

1 g twice daily

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 26

Baye 2019

500, 1000, and 1500 mg increasing at 4 week intervals

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 25

Baraniuk 2013

2 g

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 22

Baye 2018

2 g/day

Human

human

oral

6 or 12 weeks

Randomized trial in people

Baba 2024

60 mg/kg body wt

Human

human

oral

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 25

Everaert 2012

20 mg/kg body wt

Human

human

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 12

Baguet 2014

2 g/day

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 12

Schön 2023

25 mg/kg

Human

human

oral

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 5

Blancquaert 2021

5 g twice daily

Human

human

oral

4 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 4

Ali 2025

800 mg daily

Human

human

Not reported

8 weeks

Trial in people without random groups

Chez 2002

2 g/day

Human

human

oral

twelve weeks

Trial in people without random groups

Regazzoni 2016

up to 10 g

Human

human

oral

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups

Ali 2025

15 g

Human

human

oral

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups

Ali 2025

2 g/day

Human

human

oral

8 weeks

Reports of single patients · n = 3

Zanini 2020

2 g/day

Human

human

oral

8 weeks

Reports of single patients · n = 3

Ostojic 2020

500 mg/kg diet

Animal

chicken

dietary

d 1 to d 35

Study in live animals · n = 1,080

Askri 2025

25, 50 or 100 mg carnosine per kg diet

Animal

pig

oral

8 weeks

Study in live animals · n = 72

Ma 2010

400 mg/kg diet

Animal

sheep

dietary

60 days

Study in live animals · n = 60

Meng 2024

50 mg/kg

Animal

rat

intraperitoneal

Not reported

Study in live animals · n = 30

Iyiol 2026

1 mg/kg/day

Animal

rat

Not reported

Study in live animals · n = 20

Ozel 2010

50 mumol/min

Animal

dog

infusion

Not reported

Study in live animals · n = 19

Cianciaruso 1985

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

Topical cosmetic products marketed for skin aging

Not stated

0.1 to 0.5 % per formulation

Not stated

Single source. The source carries commercial or referral links. Its underlying reports were not independently confirmed.

L-carnosine

L-carnosine at a glance

What is L-carnosine?

The history of L-carnosine

L-carnosine structure and chemistry

What L-carnosine studies show

Mood, stress and behavior

Memory and thinking

Blood sugar

Daily life and fitness

Weight and appetite

Heart and blood vessels

Key L-carnosine studies

L-carnosine clinical trials

Is L-carnosine approved?

L-carnosine side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Community sources

Ask a question about L-carnosine

Related peptides

Sources

L-carnosine

L-carnosine at a glance

What is L-carnosine?

The history of L-carnosine

L-carnosine structure and chemistry

What L-carnosine studies show

Mood, stress and behavior

Memory and thinking

Blood sugar

Daily life and fitness

Weight and appetite

Heart and blood vessels

Key L-carnosine studies

L-carnosine clinical trials

Is L-carnosine approved?

L-carnosine side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Community sources

Ask a question about L-carnosine

Related peptides

Sources