Zinc and L-carnosine are two nutritional supplement ingredients that may themselves provide potentially important health benefits. And the combination of the two, can Zinc Carnosine achieve better effects? Today, Nutri Avenue takes you through these three ingredients and their potential benefits.
What Is Zinc?
When it comes to zinc, its role in immune function is well known. It has many uses in the human body, including participating in enzyme action, tissue structure, and regulatory processes.
Zinc participates in more than 300 enzymes to work together. However, the latest statistics show that it actually plays an important role in more than 2,000 enzymes.
Enzymes are proteins that build or break down the components your body needs. Without enzymes, the human body cannot function properly. If zinc needs are not met during development, a child’s growth will be stunted. Within a given population, the percentage of children who are zinc deficient is usually measured by determining developmental delay.
Zinc is also essential for the construction of many proteins. Among these, many proteins function to regulate gene expression. With the addition of zinc, these proteins become stable. It enables it to perform necessary tasks, including binding to deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA.
Additionally, ionized zinc is an important factor in regulating body processes. It may promote or control a variety of biological functions. This regulatory function of zinc is its primary means of supporting the immune system. A review of research suggests that zinc plays a key role in many functions at the cellular level, including cell activation, division, and development. It may also aid in wound healing, blood clotting, thyroid function, and sperm production.
Neurologically speaking, zinc may aid in mental development and memory enhancement.
Explore the relationship between zinc and gastrointestinal function
One of the key roles of zinc is to support gastrointestinal function.
Research from India showed that zinc supplementation reduced the number of children with diarrhea lasting more than seven days by 39%.
Zinc is also crucial for a leaky gut. An inflammatory response often causes this problem. The inflammatory response can cause gaps between intestinal cells that are normally tightly packed together. These gaps allow incompletely digested food particles and other gastrointestinal contents to enter the body. These particles can cause immune responses and further inflammatory reactions. Several autoimmune diseases, like celiac disease, type 1 glycometabolism disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid joint problems, are associated with increased intestinal permeability. Zinc supplementation alone can help reverse intestinal permeability, reducing the relapse risk.
What Is L-Carnosine And Its Potential Benefits?
L-carnosine is a dipeptide composed of two kinds of amino acids. It occurs naturally in the human body. Since it was originally found in muscles, it was named carnosine (from the Latin word for “meat”). Most L-carnosine is found in the heart, muscles, and brain.
Functionally, L-carnosine acts as a neurotransmitter. It appears to stimulate energy production and strengthen immune function. It has potential anti-aging activity and can chelate heavy metals. Additionally, in the brain, L-carnosine may assist in reducing glutamate. It is an excitatory neurotransmitter linked to a variety of mental health conditions.
In general, research shows that L-carnosine acts as a control agent that delays oxidation alleviates inflammatory responses, and controls protein aggregation. Protein aggregation is thought to be a fundamental cause of damage that may lead to dementia. Therefore, the control effect of L-carnosine on protein aggregation may be relevant for preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
One small case study found it may be helpful in multiple sclerosis. In addition to 5-HTP, St. John’s Wort, and saffron, L-carnosine may also serve as a natural treatment for depression. A medical trial found that it may bind to L-carnosine more quickly than a standard antidepressant prescription plus a placebo. A similar study on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also showed the potential utility of L-carnosine in optimizing ADHD symptoms.
Another potential benefit of L-carnosine may lie in controlling blood sugar and enhancing exercise performance. Studies have found that L-carnosine may optimize the body’s blood sugar and insulin levels. For athletic performance, L-carnosine or its precursor, beta-alanine, is often used to support systemic carnosine levels.
Zinc And L-Carnosine Combined: Zinc Carnosine
The ionic compound that combines both zinc and L-carnosine, called zinc carnosine, has some unique properties beyond their respective activities.
Zinc Carnosine is a chelate that forms a carnosine molecule. Two of the hydrogens are removed and replaced by zinc ions. This combination appears to have a superior effect on the healing of the intestinal mucosa.
- Gastrointestinal damage caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, simply called NSAIDs as below, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, are known to damage the intestinal mucosa and cause gastrointestinal bleeding. In one small medical trial, zinc carnosine was shown to potentially slow down much of the intestinal damage caused by taking NSAIDs. Intestinal permeability increased threefold in patients taking NSAIDs. It indicates damage to the intestinal lining. Meanwhile, intestinal permeability was unchanged in patients taking NSAIDs and zinc L-carnosine. It shows the superior gastrointestinal protective effect of zinc L-carnosine.
Low-dose aspirin is often used to prevent heart attacks. However, aspirin can cause severe gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding even at low doses. Zinc L-carnosine may reduce gastrointestinal damage in patients taking low-dose aspirin with evidence of mucosal damage.
- Gastric ulcer
In Japan, zinc carnosine is a formula that helps repair gastric ulcers. Stomach ulcers are usually caused by a bacteria called H. pylori. Usually, repairing a stomach ulcer requires relief from this bacteria. However, Helicobacter pylori is a difficult bacterium to eradicate and usually requires a combination of three to four prescriptions for two weeks.
In early trials, three standard formulations of Helicobacter pylori repair were combined with zinc L-carnosine or placebo. Bacteria were eliminated in 100% of patients who received Zinc Carnosine repair. Patients in the placebo group had only an 86% bacterial removal rate. A separate trial using different antibacterial agents also found that adding zinc L-carnosine had the potential to optimize results. Among patients who took zinc L-carnosine, 77% effectively eliminated Helicobacter pylori infection. Among patients given a placebo, only 58.6% had successful removal.
- Ulcerative colitis
It is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disease. The inflammatory reaction in the large intestine can become very severe which lead to tissue damage and even the typical bloody diarrhea. In a small pilot study, zinc carnosine enemas were combined with standard therapy, and 71% of patients experienced symptom relief. Among patients who received only standard therapy, only 10% improved or achieved remission.
Based on the overwhelming medical response, more research is urgently needed to confirm the potential role of zinc L-carnosine in ulcerative colitis.
- Functional gastrointestinal disorder complaints
Based on existing evidence, some research suggests that zinc L-carnosine may also heal stress-induced gastrointestinal problems. Functional gastrointestinal disorders are common, with irritable bowel syndrome being an obvious example.
However, this idea has not been fully studied. It is because these functional gastrointestinal disorders manifest as patient complaints. However, no imaging or laboratory evidence of an underlying disease process existed. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the full potential of zinc L-carnosine in repair. It is very necessary to increase relevant research efforts.
Conclusion
Zinc and L-carnosine each have their own benefits as stand-alone supplements, and their beneficial effects are supported by research. Combining the two creates a unique compound, Zinc carnosine, which is an effective way to stimulate gastrointestinal healing. There is evidence that zinc L-carnosine may help treat and prevent gastric ulcers and intestinal damage caused by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Meanwhile, zinc L-carnosine may also help relieve ulcerative colitis and other functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Nutri Avenue is aware of Zinc Carnosine‘s potential gastrointestinal benefits and has introduced and recommended the ingredient to customers of gut health brands.
