Arginine Health Benefits
Source: Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute at
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/76400.cfm
Scientific Name: 2-amino-5-guanidinovaleric acid
Clinical Summary
Arginine is an amino acid that is synthesized in the
body. Oral arginine has been used for various conditions such as
hypertension, angina, atherosclerosis, migraine headache, and erectile
dysfunction. Its vasodilatory properties are thought to be responsible for
the beneficial effects. Arginine has also been used to enhance wound
healing, immune function, and athletic performance.
Some studies support potential uses of arginine in coronary artery and
peripheral artery diseases (PADs) (10)
(11)
(12)
(13);
however, long term supplementation of arginine may actually worsen PAD
(14).
Furthermore, arginine supplementation does not benefit the blood pressure
and kidney function in women with preeclampsia (15).
Large doses of oral arginine improved subjective assessment of sexual
function in men with organic erectile dysfunction (16).
Arginine added to ibuprofen may increase pain relief in patients with
migraine headaches (17).
In addition, oral arginine has been studied for its effect on modifying or
preventing the development of nitrate tolerance during continuous
transdermal nitroglycerin therapy (18),
and may enhance growth hormone release by inhibition of endogenous
somatostatin (19).
Arginine supplementation by enteral feeding was shown to decrease shock in
severely burned patients (4).
Arginine supplementation has been studied in cancer patients. Postoperative
enteral formulas enhanced with arginine may improve wound healing (1)
and enhance immune status (27)
Food Sources
Nuts, seeds, soy foods, legumes, and chocolate.
Purported uses
· Fatigue
·
Hypertension
· Angina
·
Atherosclerosis
· Wound
healing
· Immune
stimulation
· Erectile
dysfunction
· Migraine
headaches
Mechanism of Action
Arginine is unique among amino acids for its
vasodilatory properties (11).
Arginine acts as a precursor for the synthesis of endogenous nitric oxide
(NO) via the action of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nitric oxide's functions
as a paracrine-signaling molecule mediating vasodilation and inhibition of
platelet activation, monocyte and leucocyte adhesion, and smooth muscle cell
proliferation. Nitric oxide also helps to control vascular oxidative stress
and redox-regulated gene expression (22).
Arginine is also needed for the synthesis of creatine which is important in
muscle contraction (22).
In colorectal adenoma cells, arginine reduces the expression of survivin, an
inhibitor of apoptosis, and induces iNOS expression (23).
Warnings
Limited studies suggest that arginine supplementation
may increase breast tumor growth, but more research is needed to examine
this (9)
(21).
Adverse Reactions
· Large doses
of > 10g/day are not associated with reported significant side effects or
toxicities.
· Abdominal
pain, bloating, nausea and diarrhea have been reported with oral
administration (5)
(8)
(20).
Herb-Drug Interactions
· Large doses
of arginine can increase urinary excretion of lysine (21).
· Due to
arginines vasodilatory properties, theoretically it may have additive
hypotensive effects with drugs such as antihypertensives, sildenafil and
nitrates (11)
(20).
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