Anserine

Anserine (β-alanyl-N-methylhistidine) is a dipeptide containing β-alanine and 1-methylhistidine, which can be found in the skeletal muscle and brain of mammals and birds. Anserine (β-alanyl-N-methylhistidine) is a dipeptide containing β-alanine and 1-methylhistidine, which can be found in the skeletal muscle and brain of mammals and birds. Due to its presence in lean muscles, like fish and poultry, there have been recent studies showing that anserine's inclusion to our diets can be beneficial for blood clearance and food absorption. These results were based on L-histidine concentrations at different time intervals. In addition, anserine can also be beneficial for patients with Alzheimer's disease. In a recent study including an Alzheimer's model mice, the use of anserine reduced the inflammation of astrocytes, showing that treatment with anserine can improve memory loss. The pKa of the imidazole ring of histidine, when contained in anserine, is 7.04, making it an effective buffer at physiologic pH.