Carnosine

A dipeptide that buffers acid and supports muscle and brain health.

Last reviewedJune 16, 2026

Plasma

sample type

~5 mL

blood needed

~7 days

results in app

Morning, fasting

best timing

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On this page

Why test Reference ranges What you'll learn What affects it How testing works Sources FAQ

In short

Carnosine is a small molecule made of two amino acids, beta-alanine and histidine. It is concentrated in muscle and brain tissue, where it helps buffer acid and acts as an antioxidant. In blood it is usually present only at very low levels.

Comprehensive Health Check

Reviewed against DGKL reference practice.

Why test this?

It is measured as part of a plasma amino acid profile. Because an enzyme in blood breaks carnosine down quickly, plasma levels are normally low or hard to detect. It is read for context within the wider panel rather than as a stand alone test of any single condition.

What is a normal result?

Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.

Adult reference values as used by Aniva. Ranges are guidance and can vary by laboratory and method.

Group	Normal range
Adults	Below 1 µmol/L

Sources: Mayo Clinic Laboratories: Amino Acids, Quantitative, Plasma (AAP)

Your Aniva report reads your result against these values together with your age, sex and the rest of your panel.

Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and assay, aligned with DGKL practice. Always read your result against your own lab's reference interval.

What insights will this test give you?

Context on carnosine and its building blocks within your profile.
Awareness that low plasma levels are normal because carnosine is broken down quickly in blood.
Help interpreting the rest of your amino acid profile.

What can affect this result?

What can skew the result

Recent intake of meat, carnosine or beta-alanine supplements, fasting state, time of day, and rapid breakdown in blood all affect the result. A fasting morning sample gives the most reliable reading.

Best interpreted with

Read as part of the full plasma amino acid profile.

How is this tested?

Sample

Plasma

Blood needed

~5 mL

Method

Ion-exchange chromatography or LC-MS/MS

Best timing

Morning, fasting

Sources. The evidence behind this

Mayo Clinic Laboratories: Amino Acids, Quantitative, Plasma
MedlinePlus: Plasma amino acids

Common questions

Which Aniva panels include this marker?

Amino Acids

These tests assess essential, non-essential, and branched-chain amino acids, plus related metabolites and functional ratios.