Posted by raybakes on November 2, 2004, at 3:04:55
In reply to Re: carnosine and brain health » raybakes, posted by Jasmineneroli on October 30, 2004, at 1:25:58
> Hi Ray:
> I have read that Carnosine has an important role in eye health, too.
> I'm a bit confused about this substance. I've seen it referred to as an amino acid, but I don't believe it is an AA (???).
> I'm really trying to increase my daily anti-oxidant consumption, as neuro-protectors to avoid any oxidative degeneration in my brain (elsewhere too!). Is there any evidence that taking psychiatric drugs (in my case SSRI's & benzo's)
> A) Has an impact on brain oxidation (i.e increases it). B)Negatively interferes with the action of anti-oxidants C) Cause me to need higher doses of anti-oxidants (or specific anti-oxidants)?????????
> Carnosine would seem like a good addition.
> Thanks.
> Jas
>Hi Jas,
Yes carnosine seems to be a wonder a amino acid, but I suppose it's really a dipeptide - beta alanine and histidine.
There are a lot of claims about it....
balances cell pH
Protects cell membranes from toxic aldehydes
chelates excessive zinc and copper
Chelates toxic cadmium
Acts as a store for histidine, essential in heavy metal detoxification.
prolongs the number of replications by each cell.
repairs cells damaged by sugar.Not sure how many are true, but here's a good article...
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2001/jan2001_report_carnosine_1.html
As for ssri drugs increasing oxidation in the brain, my feelings are that they might, but I've been trying to push larry on the subject with regard to dopamine.
There's quite a few studies that mention autoxidation of dopamine to toxic quinones, but larry feels that this rarely happens, especially if your antioxidants are at a good level.
I feel that depression is essentially an inflammatory disease, and if our antioxidants were working well, we wouldn't have the depression in the first place - so to have high levels of neurotansmitters, that are prone to oxidation might, in the long run, exacerbate the condition.
I feel, dealing with the immune system, and how it relates to the nervous system is very important. Also looking at ways to improve receptor function and response, to increase the efficiency of the whole system, so less neurotransmitters are needed for the same effect.
Other things that seem important are, oxygen supply, energy (looking after the mitochondria carnosine is good for that!), and blood flow. I've also been reading some things about how our structure regulates the immune/nervous system - the extra cellular matrix in the brain acts as a reservoir for a lot of immune complexes that interact with out nervous system.
Hope that's of interest..
Ray
poster:raybakes
thread:407989
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041022/msgs/410448.html