ABOUT US!
Built From Real Performance Needs
Carnogel was created at the intersection of elite sport, scientific rigor, and lived experience.
The brand was co-founded by Elizabeth Poder, a World Cup–level equestrian athlete, together with Jaanus Poder and Laidar Laos, whose work and interests span performance, wellbeing, and innovation in the healthcare sector. What unites the team is a shared conviction: performance support must be grounded in physiology, evidence, and responsibility, not trends or shortcuts.
Where the Journey Began
The origins of Carnogel trace back more than six years, in 2020, following Elizabeth’s serious competition accident during national U25 showjumping championships. The injury resulted in extensive soft-tissue damage to the neck and shoulder region, among other injuries, and required a long and uncertain recovery period.
With European Championships approaching and time working against recovery, the experience exposed a gap that many athletes recognize: while training stress is highly specific and local, recovery solutions are often general, systemic, or symptom-focused.
That period marked the beginning of a deep and methodical exploration into soft-tissue physiology, muscular fatigue, and recovery under repeated load — not in search of a quick fix, but in search of a solution that would stand up to both scientific scrutiny and high-level sport realities.
Discovering Carnosine
During this research, attention turned to carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide found in high concentrations in human skeletal muscle, particularly in fast-twitch fibers.
Decades of peer-reviewed research have shown that carnosine plays a direct physiological role in muscle tissue by:
• buffering intracellular hydrogen ions (pH regulation)
• supporting contractile function under fatigue
• contributing to biochemical resilience during repeated high-intensity work
• interacting with oxidative and glycation stress pathways
In essence, carnosine supports how muscles and soft-tissue functions when they are most challenged.
Equally important was what the research revealed about limitations: orally ingested carnosine is rapidly degraded systemically, and indirect strategies require long loading periods that do not align with the acute, localized nature of training stress.
This reinforced a defining insight that would shape Carnogel’s philosophy: Muscular stress originates locally within working muscle tissue, and support must be aligned with the tissues under load.
From Physiology to Practical Application
Guided by this understanding, a group of scientists and formulation experts from the University of Tartu set out a mission to translate established carnosine physiology into a localized, practical format aligned with how training stress is experienced in the body.
The result was Carnogel — a topical sports gel designed to support muscles and soft tissues under repeated physical load.
Carnogel is not positioned as a medical treatment, nor as a shortcut to recovery. It is designed as a physiology-aligned support tool that integrates naturally into training routines and respects the body’s own adaptive processes.
Built for Consistency, Not Shortcuts
High performance is not built in single moments. It is built through consistent training, repeated exposure to load, and the ability to return to quality work day after day.
Carnogel was developed to support that consistency.
Its localized format allows use to be adapted to the individual athlete, their discipline, and the specific tissues most exposed to stress. This makes it equally relevant for elite competitors and for dedicated individuals who train seriously and value long-term physical capacity.
Today, Carnogel is used by athletes across a wide range of disciplines, from Olympic medalists to committed lifestyle athletes, all united by the the same priority: long-term performance consistency.
Science as a Standard
Science guides how Carnogel is developed.
Every formulation decision is guided by:
• established physiological principles
• conservative interpretation of evidence
• transparency about what is known and what is still being explored
Carnogel does not claim to override biology. It is designed to work in respect of it.
Integrity, Compliance, and Elite Sport
Carnogel is developed with full awareness of elite sport requirements.
• The formulation is doping-free
• It is suitable for use at the highest levels of sport, including Olympic level
• It avoids systemic stimulation and unnecessary complexity
This is intentional. Performance support should enhance confidence — not create doubt.
Quality and Manufacturing
Carnogel is manufactured in Denmark in a regulated production environment.
Each batch is produced under controlled conditions and undergoes routine quality and purity testing prior to release.
Looking Ahead
Carnogel was not created to follow trends. It was built to endure.
As scientific understanding deepens and performance demands evolve, our commitment remains unchanged:
to develop support tools grounded in physiology, evidence, and responsibility — for athletes who care not only about how they perform today, but how they perform over time.
Working With Carnogel
We collaborate selectively with athletes, practitioners, teams, and partners who share our values:
Evidence-based care, long-term soundness, and respect for the horse’s body.
If you are interested in working with Carnogel, as a professional, organization, or distribution partner, we welcome thoughtful conversations built on shared standards.
Send a message to info@carnogel.com
