The key difference between L carnosine and L carnitine is that L carnosine is made of beta-alanine and histidine, whereas L carnitine contains lysine and methionine.
Both carnosine and carnitine contain amino acids. However, these compounds have different amino acids. These substances play important and critical roles in the body. For example, carnosine can prevent aging and prevent or treat complications of diabetes such as nerve damage, while carnitine has a critical role in energy production.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is l Carnosine
3. What is l Carnitine
4. l Carnosine vs l Carnitine in Tabular Form
5. Summary – l Carnosine vs l Carnitine
What is L carnosine?
L carnosine or carnosine is a dipeptide composed of two amino acids: beta-alanine and histidine. Generally, carnosine occurs abundantly in its L isomer form; therefore, L carnosine is generally named carnosine. This substance is abundant in muscles and brain tissues. This compound was first discovered by the Russian Chemist Vladimir Gulevich.
Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of L Carnosine
This substance is naturally produced in the body (it forms in the liver). In the liver, carnosine is formed from beta-alanine and histidine. Beta-alanine comes as a byproduct of pyrimidine catabolism. Histidine is an essential amino acid we need to take from the outside. Similar to carnitine, a quaternary ammonium compound, carnosine also has the name derived from “carn” which means “flesh.” This alludes to its occurrence in meat. Therefore, there are no plant-based sources of carnosine. However, there can be some synthetic supplements that are commercially available.
In the synthesis process of L carnosine, beta-alanine is the limiting substrate. Therefore, supplementing sufficient amounts of beta-alanine can increase the intramuscular concentration of carnosine.
There are valuable uses of L carnosine, which include using it as a buffer for the pH range of animal muscles, as an antioxidant substance, as an antiglycating agent, as a geoprotector, etc. It can also chelate divalent metal ions, etc.
What is L carnitine?
L carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound involved in the metabolism process of many mammals, plants, and some bacteria. This substance is supportive of energy metabolism. Here, it transports long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria, where these fatty acids get oxidized for the production of energy. It also precipitates while removing products of metabolism from cells.
Figure 02: The Chemical Structure of L Carnitine
When considering the key metabolic roles of L carnitine, it is concentrated in tissues such as skeletal and cardiac muscle that can metabolize fatty acids as an energy source. Typically, healthy people, including strict vegetarians, can synthesize sufficient amounts of L carnitine in vivo, so they need no supplementation. The excretion of this substance occurs through urine. The bioavailability of L carnitine is about 10%, while the protein binding ability is zero.
What is the Difference Between l Carnosine and l Carnitine?
L carnosine and L carnitine are L isomers of carnosine and carnitine. The key difference between L carnosine and L carnitine is that L carnosine is made of beta-alanine and histidine, whereas L carnitine contains lysine and methionine.
The below infographic presents the differences between L carnosine and L carnitine in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – l Carnosine vs l Carnitine
L carnosine or carnosine is a dipeptide composed of two amino acids: beta-alanine and histidine. L carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound that involves in the metabolism process in many mammals, plants, and some bacteria. The key difference between L carnosine and L carnitine is that L carnosine is made of beta-alanine and histidine, whereas L carnitine contains lysine and methionine.
Reference:
1. Wong, Cathy. “What Is Carnosine?” Verywell Health, 20 July 2020.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Carnosine” By Vaccinationist – PubChem (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Carnitine” By Ed (Edgar181) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia