The invention relates to β-alanine amides of general formula (I), wherein: R1 represents hydrogen or C¿1-6? alkyl that is optionally substituted by hydroxy, amino, carboxy, carbamoyl, methylmercapto, guanidino, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl, and; R?2¿ represents hydrogen or R?1 and R2¿, together, form a group of formula -(CH¿2?)n-, wherein n is 3 or 4. Said β-alanine amides are produced without using an amino protective group by reacting the corresponding amine with a cyanoacetic ester in order to form an acetamide and by effecting a subsequent catalytic hydrogenation. The method is suited, in particular, for producing carcinine (β-alanyl-histamine, R?1 ¿= imidazol-4-ylmethyl, R2 = H), a naturally occurring pseudo dipeptide, which is used as an active ingredient having an antioxidative effect in medicaments and cosmetics.