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The non-essential amino acid arginine and is abundant in protamines and histones - both proteins associated with nucleic acids and was first isolated in 1895 from animal horn.
Newborns may produce this amino acid too slowly and for them arginine should be seen as an essential amino acid.
Arginine is acquiring a reputation for keeping the body's biggest muscle, the heart, in tip-top shape. In fact, this workhorse nutrient performs numerous vital functions.
Arginine retards the growth of tumors and cancer by enhancing immune function. It increases the size and activity of the thymus gland, which manufactures T lymphocytes (T cells), crucial components of the immune system. Arginine may therefore benefit those suffering from AIDS and malignant diseases that suppress the immune system.
It is also good for liver disorders such as cirrhosis of the liver and fatty liver; it aids in liver detoxification by neutralizing ammonia.
Seminal fluid contains arginine. Studies suggest that sexual maturity may be delayed by arginine deficiency; conversely, arginine is useful in treating sterility in men. Arginine is often used as a sexual stimulant as people report longer and more intense organisms when their intake of arginine is increased.
It is found in high concentrations in the skin and connective tissues, making it helpful for healing and repair of damaged tissue.
Arginine is important for muscle metabolism. It helps to maintain a proper nitrogen balance by acting as a vehicle for transportation and storage, and aiding in the excretion, of excess nitrogen. This amino acid aids in weight loss because it facilitates an increase in muscle mass and a reduction of body fat.
It is also involved in a variety of key enzymes and hormones such as glycogen and insulin. It aids in stimulating the pancreas to release insulin, is a component of the pituitary hormone vasopressin, and assists in the release of growth hormones.
Because arginine is a component of collagen and aids in the building new bone and tendon cells, it can be good for arthritis and connective tissue disorders. Scar tissue that forms during wound healing is made up of collagen, which is rich in arginine.
SOURCES
Foods high in arginine include carob, chocolate, coconut, dairy products, gelatin, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, oats, peanuts, soybeans, walnuts, white flour, wheat, and wheat germ, brown rice, popcorn, raisins, whole wheat products, and eggs.
The body actually manufactures arginine by digesting the proteins in these foods.
MOLECULAR DESCRIPTION
Arginine is a complex amino acid that is often found at the active (or catalytic) site in proteins and enzymes due to its amine-containing side chain. Although arginine is considered an essential amino acid (it must be obtained through the diet), this is true only during the juvenile period in humans. Arginine is incorporated in proteins at about a 4.7 percent on a per-mole basis when compared to the other amino acids.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Arginine supplements appear to reduce mildly elevated blood pressure by enhancing the synthesis of nitric oxide (a gas) in the cells that line the blood vessels. This helps dilate vessel walls and improve blood flow around the heart. In fact, nitric oxide ranks as the body's most potent blood vessel expander.
Arginine supplements may also inhibit the buildup of plaque and other substances that can harden blood vessels, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Recent findings indicate that this amino acid may lower cholesterol as well. Its positive effect on circulation makes it potentially useful for treating coronary artery disease; here blood flow to the heart is limited and causes damage to this muscle. Arginine may also benefit angina (chest pain), a condition associated with tightening of vessels around the heart.
In addition, arginine may help in treating male infertility caused by circulation problems.
ARGININE & HEART DISEASE
Arginine is a key component of the nitric oxide pathway - and important cascade of reactions involved in vasodilation and related to cardiovascular function. Arginine supplements have been associated with reductions in symptoms associated with coronary artery disease and may be capable of slowing the progression of atherosclerosis.
In the body, arginine serves as the substrates for the nitric oxide synthase enzyme, which catalyzes the oxidation of arginine to produce citrulline and nitric oxide (NO). In the cells that line the blood vessels (endothelium cells), nitric oxide production causes vasodilation (opening of the vessels). NO is involved in the overall regulation of systemic vascular resistance, where it inhibits the adherence of cells and foreign substances to the blood vessel walls and helps suppress the overgrowth of smooth muscle cells in the lining of the vessels.
Because humans can synthesize arginine, it has been classified as a non-essential amino acid. Recent evidence suggests that the rate of synthesis of arginine in the body is insufficient for optimal health - a situation which would re-classify arginine as a semi-essential or conditionally essential amino acid.
In people with elevated cholesterol levels, it is common to see a reduced ability of the endothelium to produce NO and, therefore, to dilate effectively. In addition, because NO production may be limited, blood cells such as monocytes and platelets are more likely to attach themselves to the inner vessel wall and lead to blockages. Arginine supplements (8-21 grams per day) have been shown to restore endothelial vasodilation in the coronary arteries of people with high cholesterol and reduce the ability of blood cells to adhere to the vessel walls. Improvements in coronary artery blood flow and reductions in myocardial ischemia and walking pain due to claudication have been noted with arginine supplements (9-14 grams per day).
Arginine supplements have been used safely in patients with heart disease in doses up to more than 20 grams per day.
For those individuals at risk for coronary artery disease, including those who experience ischemia due to reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery, arginine supplements may be an effective strategy for improving circulation to the heart and other affected areas (such as vessels in the calves).
Dosage: A daily arginine requirement has been calculated to be approximately 8 grams per day (based on calculations for a 70-kg person). Since the average American diet contains only about 5 grams of arginine per day, there would appear to be a deficit in intake versus requirements. Importantly, the primary dietary sources of arginine, like all amino acids, are meats and other high protein foods (nuts, eggs).
References:
1. Alexander JW, Levy A, Custer D, Valente JF, Babcock G, Ogle CK, Schroeder TJ. Arginine, fish oil, and donor-specific transfusions independently improve cardiac allograft survival in rats given subtherapeutic doses of cyclosporin. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1998 May-Jun;22(3):152-5.
2. Brown SA, Langford K, Tarver S. Effects of certain vasoactive agents on the long-term pattern of blood pressure, heart rate, and motor activity in cats. Am J Vet Res. 1997 Jun;58(6):647-52.
3. Chaloupecky V, Hucin B, Tlaskal T, Kostelka M, Kucera V, Janousek J, Skovranek J, Sprongl L. Nitrogen balance, 3-methylhistidine excretion, and plasma amino acid profile in infants after cardiac operations for congenital heart defects: the effect of early nutritional support. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1997 Dec;114(6):1053-60.
4. Chin-Dusting JP, Kaye DM, Lefkovits J, Wong J, Bergin P, Jennings GL. Dietary supplementation with L-arginine fails to restore endothelial function in forearm resistance arteries of patients with severe heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1996 Apr;27(5):1207-13.
5. Dadmarz M, v d Burg C, Milakofsky L, Hofford JM, Vogel WH. Effects of stress on amino acids and related compounds in various tissues of fasted rats. Life Sci. 1998;63(16):1485-91.
6. de Lorgeril M, Salen P, Monjaud I, Delaye J. The 'diet heart' hypothesis in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Eur Heart J. 1997 Jan;18(1):13-8.
7. Fraser GE. Diet and coronary heart disease: beyond dietary fats and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 May;59(5 Suppl):1117S-1123S.
8. Fraser GE. Nut consumption, lipids, and risk of a coronary event. Clin Cardiol. 1999 Jul;22(7 Suppl):III11-5.
9. Gnadinger MP, Weidmann P, Rascher W, Lang RE, Hellmuller B, Uehlinger DE. Plasma arginine-vasopressin levels during infusion of synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide on different sodium intakes in man. J Hypertens. 1986 Oct;4(5):623-9.
10. Hayakawa H, Raij L. Nitric oxide synthase activity and renal injury in genetic hypertension. Hypertension. 1998 Jan;31(1 Pt 2):266-70.
11. Hayashi T, Fukuto JM, Ignarro LJ, Chaudhuri G. Gender differences in atherosclerosis: possible role of nitric oxide. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1995 Nov;26(5):792-802.
12. He H, Kimura S, Fujisawa Y, Tomohiro A, Kiyomoto K, Aki Y, Abe Y. Dietary L-arginine supplementation normalizes regional blood flow in Dahl-Iwai salt-sensitive rats. Am J Hypertens. 1997 May;10(5 Pt 2):89S-93S.
13. Ikeda K, Nara Y, Tagami M, Yamori Y. Nitric oxide deficiency induces myocardial infarction in hypercholesterolaemic stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1997 May;24(5):344-8.
14. Laurant P, Demolombe B, Berthelot. Dietary L-arginine attenuates blood pressure in mineralocorticoid-salt hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Hypertens. 1995 Oct;17(7):1009-24.
15. Lou H, Kodama T, Wang YN, Katz N, Ramwell P, Foegh ML. L-arginine prevents heart transplant arteriosclerosis by modulating the vascular cell proliferative response to insulin-like growth factor-I and interleukin-6. J Heart Lung Transplant. 1996 Dec;15(12):1248-57.
16. Manning RD Jr, Hu L, Reckelhoff JF. Role of nitric oxide in the arterial pressure and renal adaptations to long-term changes in sodium intake. Am J Physiol. 1997 Apr;272(4 Pt 2):R1162-9.
17. Rajamohan T, Kurup PA. Lysine: arginine ratio of a protein influences cholesterol metabolism. Part 1--Studies on sesame protein having low lysine: arginine ratio. Indian J Exp Biol. 1997 Nov;35(11):1218-23.
18. Siani A, Pagano E, Iacone R, Iacoviello L, Scopacasa F, Strazzullo P. Blood pressure and metabolic changes during dietary L-arginine supplementation in humans. Am J Hypertens. 2000 May;13(5 Pt 1):547-51.
19. Stechenko LO, Sahach VF, Tkachenko MM, Skybins'ka TR, Andriienko TV. The effect of L-arginine on the ultrastructure of atrial cardiomyocytes in experimental hypercholesterolemia. Fiziol Zh. 1999;45(1-2):72-9.
20. Wu G, Flynn NE, Flynn SP, Jolly CA, Davis PK. Dietary protein or arginine deficiency impairs constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthesis by young rats. J Nutr. 1999 Jul;129(7):1347-54.
ARGININE DEFICIENCY
Most adults do not need to take this non-essential amino acid in supplement form because it is so readily obtained through a wide range of foods. Arginine deficiency is rare.
A variety of functions, including insulin production, glucose tolerance, and liver lipid metabolism, are impaired when the body is deficient in arginine. Possible hair loss may be another sign of arginine deficiency.
This amino acid can be produced in the body; however, in newborn infants, production may not occur quickly enough to keep up with requirements.
ARGININE DOSAGE
Standard dosage recommended: 1,500-2,000 mg a day 2 hrs after eating.
Angina: 500 mg L-arginine 3 times a day on an empty stomach.
High Blood Pressure: 1,000 mg L-arginine twice a day.
Infertility, Male: 1,000 mg L-arginine 3 times a day.
SUPPLEMENT FORMS
Tablet
Powder
capsule
TOXICITY & SYMPTOMS OF HIGH DOSES
Rare, but symptoms of massive dosages may include skin thickening and coarsening of the skin, weakness, diarrhea, nausea, as well as increasing the activity of some viruses. People who should not take arginine are those predisposed to herpes outbreaks; cancer patients, due to possible increase in cell replication of cancerous cells; those with low blood pressure; and individuals with certain liver or kidney problems. Anyone taking blood thinners are advised to seek medical advice before taking the supplement. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also cautioned against taking the supplements due to the unknown affect it could have on both mother and child. People with schizophrenia should avoid high dosages.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Don't take arginine if you are taking other drugs that dilate the blood vessels, such as nitroglycerin or sildenafil (Viagra).
CAUTIONS
Those with viral infections such as herpes should not take supplemental Arginine, and should avoid foods rich in Arginine, as it appears to promote the growth of certain viruses. Arginine has been suspect in the formation of cold sores (a herpes simplex virus). Some practitioners suggest that consuming foods high in arginine, such as nuts, grains, and chocolates, can promote cold sores. Reducing intake of foods high in Arginine and increasing intake of Lysine (another amino acid) can reduce or even eliminate the cold sore problem.
Arginine does not show any positive results in treatment of men with damaged valves or enlarged heart tissue.
L-Arginine supplements should be avoided by pregnant and lactating women. Persons with schizophrenia should avoid amounts over 30 mg daily. Long term use, especially of high doses, is not recommended. One study found that several weeks of large doses may result in thickening and coarsening of the skin.
While Arginine is considered quite safe, it could potentially worsen certain conditions because of the way it affects the body. Consult your healthcare provider before taking Arginine supplements if you suffer from migraines or have kidney problems, a liver disorder, breast cancer, Crohn's disease, or rheumatoid arthritis.
If you use Arginine supplements for longer than one month, take them with an amino acid complex that contains a variety of amino acids. This will ensure that you get a proper balance of all amino acids.
OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION
Arginine pyroglutamate, in addition to having cognitive enhancing effects, is an excellent growth hormone releaser because it is carried more efficiently across the blood-brain barrier than arginine alone. In Italy, this form of amino acid is used to treat senility, mental retardation, and alcoholism. Arginine pyroglutamate is an arginine molecule combined with a pyroglutamate molecule. Arginine alone does not produce cognitive enhancing effects.
This nutrient is gaining popularity as a non-prescription treatment for high cholesterol as animal studies and preliminary studies in humans suggest that it may improve coronary blood flow and lower cholesterol levels with its antioxidant property, and helping to keep blood-vessel tissue elastic.
ARGININE SUPPLEMENTS
L-Arginine, Pharmaceutical Grade, Vegetarian Formula, NOW Foods, 1000 mg, 120 Tabs
L-Arginine is a conditionally essential basic amino acid involved primarily in urea metabolism and excretion as well as DNA synthesis.
L-Arginine, Pharmaceutical Grade, Free Form, NOW Foods, 500 mg, 100 Tabs
L-Arginine is a conditionally essential basic amino acid involved primarily in urea metabolism and excretion as well as DNA synthesis.
Tri Amino / L-Arginine, L-Ornithine, L-Lysine, 775 mg, NOW Foods, 120 Caps
Tri-Amino, an amino acid supplement, is a comprehensive product that combines three essential amino acids, L-Arginine, L-Ornithine, and L-Lysine into one easy-to-take formula.
AAKG Powder (L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate), NOW Foods, 100% Pure, Vegetarian Formula, 3000 mg, 7 oz.
NOW Foods AAKG contains Arginine, a conditionally essential amino acid that has a number of vital roles in human biochemistry such as a pivotal role in the urea cycle, helping to rid the body of excess ammonia and this amino acid is also important in protein synthesis as well as for the support of healthy immune function.
AAKG 3500 Amino Acid Supplement, NOW Foods, 180 Tabs
NOW Foods AAKG Amino Acid Supplement contains Arginine, a conditionally essential amino acid that has a number of vital roles in human biochemistry.
Amino 1000 Complete, NOW Foods, 120 Caps
Amino 1000 Complete contains a balanced blend of 20 essential and non-essential amino acids.
Amino 1500, Chewable Blend of 20 Amino Acids, Predigested, NOW Foods, 150 Tabs
This Amino 1500 contains a balanced blend of 20 essential and non-essential amino acids in a chewable format.
Herbal Remedies: Arginine / L-Arginine Information
Herbal Remedies: Arginine / L-Arginine Supplements & Products
MoonDragon's Health Information: Nutrition Basics - Amino Acids Index
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