Carnosine is an endogenously produced dipeptide that possesses powerful antioxidative properties and is found in high concentrations in muscle and brain tissue.
A telomere is a repetitive nucleotide sequence located on the end of a chromosome. The telomere serves to protect the end of the chromosome from degradation. Telomeres will shorten in response to continued cell replication. This shortening process has been associated with eventual loss of a cell’s reproductive ability, thus ultimately limiting the lifespan of the cell.
Carnosine has been shown to decrease the shortening rate of the telomere, thereby increasing the lifespan of cells according to in vitro studies. This may imply that carnosine possesses anti-aging properties.
Source: L-Carnosine reduces telomere damage and shortening rate in cultured normal fibroblasts