It is a component of the dietary peptide anserine. Anserine is beta-alanyl-1-methyl-L-histidine, and it is known to come from chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, tuna and salmon. Other food sources (especially trout and fowl) also are likely but are not documented. The peptidase enzyme that hydrolyzes anserine is present in the small intestine and also present in liver, spleen, and kidney tissues and in blood serum. Some direct uptake of dietary anserine is normal, and moderate levels of urinary 1-methylhistidine are normal. However, high levels suggest increased uptake of short-chain peptides, possibly increased gut permeability, and increased hydrolysis of short-chain dietary peptides by peptidases in blood, liver and spleen.
1-Methylhistidine (Plasma)
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