Carnosine is a dipeptide found in skeletal muscle, the heart and the brain and has been shown to improve metabolism during intense exercise making it particularly effective for those involved in sports which require explosive movements. High levels of Carnosine have been associated with an increased capacity to buffer the effects of intramuscular hydrogen. The presence of hydrogen within the muscle can cause painful and premature fatigue by causing the muscle to become too acidic. Carnosine has been shown to help maintain lower levels of acidity in the muscle meaning you are able to exercise harder for longer. Carnosine is also a powerful antioxidant which helps the body remove harmful toxins such as free radicals. As high intensity can promote the production of free radicals it is important that athletes try to minimise their damaging effects. It has been suggested that Carnosine can help combat the damaging effects of free radicals including proteolysis which is the degradation of protein.
