title: Possible Benefit of Dietary Carnosine towards Depressive Disorders.
abstract: Many stress-related and depressive disorders have been shown to be associated with one or more of the following; shortened telomeres, raised cortisol levels and increased susceptibility to age-related dysfunction. It is suggested here that insufficient availability of the neurological peptide, carnosine, may provide a biochemical link between stress- and depression-associated phenomena: there is evidence that carnosine can enhance cortisol metabolism, suppress telomere shortening and exert anti-aging activity in model systems. Dietary supplementation with carnosine has been shown to suppress stress in animals, and improve behaviour, cognition and well-being in human subjects. It is therefore proposed that the therapeutic potential of carnosine dietary supplementation towards stress-related and depressive disorders should be examined.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hipkiss
keywords: aging; carnosine; cognition; cortisol; depression; diet; human; stress; supplementation; telomeres