Carnosine as the best antiaging supplement?

[Melvine]

hi

have anyone tried using carnosine supplement? Is it the best supplement for anti aging? Is it suitable for those aged 28 or it is more appriorate for the elderly?

I have heard that it surpass Alpha lipoic acid in term of prevent oxidative damage.

Is it true?

thanks

[Paxiled]

Oh, and as to your first question, the elderly need everything more than young people.  Getting old isn't pretty.

[Paxiled]

ALA is better for the skin if used internally, although you will find it in many lotions.  The genesis of the skin theory is a dermatologist, who then started marketing a formula that included ALA, ascorbyl palmitate, and some other supplements I don't recall offhand.  You can find that formula made by Source Naturals and Bluebonnet; one is called Eternal Skin and the other, I think, Skin Eternal.  They copy the formula of this dermatologist.  The lotions contain the same ingredients.  It's possible it works because vitamin c is a vital antioxidant and ALA protects the liver; the liver is considered the source of most skin problems.  Ascorbyl palmitate is a synthetic form of vitamin c that is an ester, meaning fat soluble.  Natural vitamin c is water soluble, and oxidizes on contact with the air.  Ascorbyl palmitate doesn't, so it's more suitable for lotions.  That's why that synthetic form was used in the original formula.  There is another form of vitamin c called Ester C, which is a patented name which just means the c is bound to calcium -- that's called calcium ascorbate.  That buffers the c, protecting the stomach from the acidic nature of large amounts of c and apparently making it more absorbable as well.  

Now, I don't know what's wrong with your skin, but you can also try herbal liver supplements.  Solaray makes one called Herbal Skin, and Nature's Way makes one called AKN.  At least I think that's what it's called.  Panetary Formulas makes one called Yellowdock Skin Cleanse or something like that.  What they have in common is using liver cleansing herbs such as dandelion root, burdock, yellowdock, kelp, and others.

Whatever you use, don't expect quick results.  It will take time.  

[Melvine]

Is it true that Carnosine is more suited for elderly and young person (im 28) would probably have enough carnosine? I hope i can take them.

i have heard of the wonders of ALA on skin (esp lotion) but after reading your comment and other references i realize it is just another antioxidant that reduce glucose and recycle Vit C and E.

Is Vitamin C absorbic-acid sufficient or must i take Vitamin C-ester?

Is there any antioxidant or supplement that has skin rejuvenating properties? ( haha i think antioxidant dun works tat way)

[Paxiled]

Carnosine isn't the same amino acid as carnitine.  There's a ton of amino acids out there.

[FurballsMom]

I haven't heard of any of this anti-aging stuff with these two supplements.  I use Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) to help with peripheral neuropathy.  I noticed that it really does cut down on the amount of neuropathy I experience.  When I did some online research for Acetyl L Carnitine and neuropathy, since it's also used.  The difference is that it is recommended that people check with their doctors before using the Acetyl L Carnitine.  My conventional doctor knows what ALA is and says it is fine for me to take that one.  I will be seeing my neurologist next month, so I'll see what he says about both of the supplements.  I just know that the ALA has actually made a significant difference with the amount and severity of the neuropathy and my PCP isn't worried about my taking it.  

My PCP works in a clinic that has graduate students from the natural health university doing their internships, so the conventional doctors work in an integrative medicine atmosphere.  This is why my PCP knows what some of these supplements are and what they're used for.  Pretty awesome.  I've only had her disagree with one thing--she doesn't believe that someone can have a systemic Candidas infection unless the person is sick enough to need to be in a hospital with an IV for treating the Candidas.  This isn't the same as what I've learned from Dr. Mercola's site or from my own naturopath.  Everything else the conventional doctor agrees with.  So, both my conventional doctor and my naturopath believe in using integrative medicine.  Not everyone has this kind of approach to medicine with their doctors.  I know I'm fortunate.  I have reason to suspect Candidas, so I've been using Pau D'Arco to treat Candidas.

[Paxiled]

Sorry, misspelled proanthacyinadins.  Probably just did again.

[Paxiled]

Oh, and by the way, there's only one thing that's ever been proven scientifically to extend any animal's life -- eating too little.  That extended the lives of rats in studies.  Nothing else ever has, it's all theory whether supplementation extends life.  What most nutrition is about is living healthier, not necessarily longer.  What we do know is that having the proper amount of anti-oxidants in your body makes you healthier; what we don't yet know is whether supplementation accomplishes this.  On the other hand, it's certainly worth a try, eh?

[Paxiled]

Anti-oxidants don't work that way.  The body needs a variety of them, since each one has an affinity for certain oxidation and not others.  For example, lipoic acid has a great affinity for protecting the liver, and since it's both fat and water soluble, it protects both vitamin c and vitamin e.  Proanthacyadins such as pine bark extract or grape seed extract are extremely strong antioxidants.  Green tea has several different strong anti-oxidants.  But they all protect against different things, and some protect anti-oxidants from themselves oxidizing, which is what makes lipoic acid so valuable.  So there's no best, and no surpassing, but if you were really going to say what's best, it would probably be good ol' vitamin c.  And maybe glutathione, which also protects the liver and the eyes.  After all, once the liver goes, so does everything else.  So carnosine is good, it's necessary, but no, there is no best.  Variety is the spice of life.