Like carnitine, carnosine is composed of the root word carn, meaning "flesh", alluding to its prevalence in meat.

Carnosine has been shown to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as alpha-beta unsaturated aldehydes formed from peroxidation of cell membrane fatty acids during oxidative stress.

[citation needed] Carnosine acts as an antiglycating agent, reducing the rate of formation of advanced glycation end-products (substances that can be a factor in the development or worsening of many degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, chronic kidney failure, and Alzheimer's disease[10]), and ultimately reducing development of atherosclerotic plaque build-up.

[14] Carnosine can increase the Hayflick limit in human fibroblasts,[15] as well as appearing to reduce the telomere shortening rate.

[20] Research has demonstrated a positive association between muscle tissue carnosine concentration and exercise performance.