L Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is required for the growth and maintenance of our bodies’ proteins. L arginine is not produced in sufficient amounts in the body to meet metabolic demands during certain health circumstances, which is why it may be obtained via supplements.
L Arginine benefits are plentiful is an essential nutrient and has been used to cure a variety of illnesses. It may help with heart disease, high blood pressure, digestive tract inflammation, diabetes treatment, wound healing, and immune function. This post explains the l arginine benefits, dosage, dangers, and negative effects of l-arginine.
What Is L arginine?
L Arginine (2-amino-5-guanidino-pentanoic acid) is a conditionally required and proteinogenic amino acid. It has been researched extensively as a nitric oxide precursor (a molecule that relaxes blood vessels in humans). L Arginine is naturally made by the body, but it can also be obtained through supplementation in certain instances. Oral therapy with this amino acid is given to individuals who are under drug therapy for a variety of reasons.
What Are The L Arginine Benefits?
1. L-Arginine May Aid in the Treatment of Heart Disease
Long-term oral administration of l-arginine for 6 months in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease alleviated their symptoms. L Arginine is a supplement that may help to treat heart disease caused by high blood cholesterol levels. L Arginine benefits include improving blood flow in the coronary arteries. This may aid in the treatment of a variety of cardiac problems.
L arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide has several physiological roles in the cardiovascular system, including dilating blood vessels and lowering blood pressure (BP).L Arginine’s oral consumption might help to cure or reduce the severity of cardiovascular disease. Patients with chronic heart failure who took l-arginine along with physical exercise had their condition improve. L arginine is a dipeptide that has anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects that aid in the treatment of non-diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease.
2. High blood pressure can be lowered
L Arginine benefits also include lowering blood pressure according to several studies. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were reduced by administering l-arginine via the mouth. In both healthy persons and those with hypertension, external l arginine benefits had also effectively lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.
In one research, women with gestational hypertension who took 4 grams of l arginine per day saw their blood pressure drop significantly. L Arginine supplementation cut the need for antihypertensive medication. L Arginine therapy during pregnancy might help reduce blood pressure in pregnant women with chronic hypertension. The supplement may also be beneficial in high-risk pregnancies.
3. In extremely premature infants, it may assist to decrease inflammation of the digestive tract.
L arginine benefits may include helping to reduce stomach inflammation in preterm infants. In piglets, dietary supplementation with l-arginine promoted intestinal development and reduced inflammation. Similar l arginine benefits could be anticipated in human babies, but more study is needed.
In another study, lower plasma l arginine levels were found in premature babies who had necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is a condition in premature infants that destroys the intestinal walls. L-arginine supplementation was discovered to significantly lower the incidence of all NEC stages.
4. Gastrointestinal Tract Issues Can Be Treated
L Arginine benefits have been shown in animal studies to improve colonic motility. It has the potential to relieve stomachache. However, additional long-term study is required in people to assess this effect of l arginine.
5. Diabetes and Its Complications May Be Avoided
L arginine may help prevent diabetes and its associated complications. Arginine levels in the plasma are decreased in people with diabetes. According to animal studies, l arginine supplementation might be beneficial for improving endothelial function in type 2 diabetes. L Arginine benefits have been found to help prevent diabetes-induced damage in the brain. It also helps people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels and reduce long-term problems.
L-arginine supplementation has been found to reduce the incidence of diabetes mellitus. Endothelial function and glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion were improved in diabetic rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet supplemented with L arginine-enriched biscuits with low sugar and protein content.
6. Boosts Immune System Health
L arginine benefits may include enhancing immune health by stimulating lymphocytes. Intracellular l arginine levels directly impact the metabolic fitness and survival capacity of T cells (a type of white blood cell) that are essential for anti-tumor responses.
L Arginine is an important amino acid that is necessary for the functioning of T lymphocytes (T-cells). Patients with cancer frequently have a weakened T‐cell response, which limits the therapeutic benefit of cancer vaccines and other types of immunotherapy. L arginine can help to maintain the effectiveness of T cells in individuals with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
L arginine metabolism is important in autoimmune and neoplastic (tumor-related) illnesses.
L Arginine supplementation has been shown to influence the immune system, which may help prevent and treat breast cancer.
In one placebo-controlled trial with 63 persons afflicted with pulmonary tuberculosis, L arginine supplementation reduced the severity of symptoms.
7. Erectile Dysfunction May Be Improved With This Supplement
L arginine may help with sexual problems. Spermatogenesis requires arginine. Oral administration of 500 mg arginine–HCl per day for 6–8 weeks to infertile men significantly increased their sperm counts.
Oral administration of l arginine in high doses improves sexual function significantly. Long-term oral administration of pharmacological dosages of l-arginine was found to improve erectile responses in aging rats.
8. Blood flow will be enhanced.
In hypertensive rats, L arginine infusions enhanced regional cerebral blood flow. It also has the potential to enhance vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels that lowers blood pressure) in hypercholesterolemia persons (people with high cholesterol levels in their blood).
In healthy people, oral L arginine administration has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation and blood viscosity while also increasing leg blood flow. In rodents, increased L-arginine administration improved post-trauma cerebral blood flow.
9. Weight Reduction May Be Helped By L Arginine
Another of L arginine’s benefits may include improved fat breakdown. This might assist with weight reduction. The amino acid shifts the body’s energy balance in favor of fat loss. Brown fat tissue burns energy calories and is a major energy-burning mechanism in the body. It also manages brown adipose tissue and reduces white fat accumulation in the body.
However, further long-term study is required to determine whether l arginine benefits in humans are similar to those found in mice.
10. Has the ability to heal wounds.
In both people and animals, dietary l arginine has been shown to promote collagen development and wound healing. L arginine has been shown to improve wound immunity cell function by lowering the inflammatory reaction at the site.
11. May be used to treat anxiety.
L arginine is believed to have anxiety-reducing and apoptogenic qualities that may help people with anxiety. L-Lysine and L-Arginine, when combined in a nutritional supplement, may help people with anxiety reduce the hormonal stress responses. However, there is a lack of research in this area.
12. May Treat Burns
The administration of L arginine to burn victims was discovered to improve cardiac function. It may also prevent bacterial translocation. The administration of L arginine to burn patients during the early phase of resuscitation was found to aid in the recovery process. Oral l arginine doses of 100–400 mg/kg/day increased the formation of reparative collagen in burned rats.
13. In people with congestive heart failure, it can help to improve kidney function
Nitric oxide deficiency is linked to heart problems and the progression of kidney damage. Nitric oxide deficiency can result from low l arginine levels. L Arginine benefits therapy has been found to improve kidney function.
In individuals with congestive heart failure, oral ingestion of l-arginine improved renal function. A modest boost in l-arginine consumption was shown to significantly lower blood pressure in one study. It also improved renal function in healthy people.
There’s still much to learn about the advantages of L Arginine consumption. Further research is necessary to evaluate this benefit.
14. Improved exercise performance may be achieved by taking this supplement.
In a research, 3 grams of oral l arginine per day for 8 weeks resulted in significant increases in muscular strength and muscle mass among 20 male participants on an exercise program.
Treadmill exercise, in addition to l arginine supplementation, was discovered in rat research to postpone aging by lowering oxidative stress and inflammation.
15. Hair Growth Can Be Improved
l Arginine has been shown in animal studies to promote hair growth. l Arginine has been shown to relax blood vessels and enhance blood flow to the scalp and base of hair follicles, which may be beneficial in promoting hair growth. However, there is little scientific research on this subject.
Recommended Dosage For L Arginine Benefits
L Arginine is just like other medications and nutrients in that the dosage is determined on a person’s age, sex, and condition. 3–8 g/day dosages appear to be safe in people. Here are the recommended doses for a few situations:
- Cardiovascular disease – 3 to 6 grams, divided into two parts (mornings and evenings)
- Erectile dysfunction – 3 to 6 grams, divided into two parts (mornings and evenings)
- Exercise performance – 5 to 9 grams, once a day
Some people have reported adverse effects after taking L arginine.
What Are The Risks Of L Arginine?
Excess use of l arginine can cause side effects, such as high blood pressure or diabetes symptoms. These include unstable blood pressure, exacerbated diabetes signs, allergies, abdominal discomfort and bloating, chemical imbalances in the blood, and an increased risk of bleeding in pregnant women (these are all uncommon and mostly dose-dependent).
The side effects of arginine, which range from nausea and diarrhea to headaches and indigestion, are minor. L Arginine is considered safe when consumed in normal quantities. However, nursing mothers and pregnant women should avoid l arginine supplements because it might cause birth defects.
Risks
For certain groups of individuals, l arginine may be life-threatening. L arginine is associated with a higher risk of dying after a myocardial infarction. It has also been linked to blood pressure problems during surgery. Arginine may be harmful to infants and children, as well as having a negative impact on blood pressure medications. L arginine in small amounts, on the other hand, appears to be safe. There is no concrete research in this field. Consult your doctor if you have any questions.
Foods High In L Arginine
L arginine is an important amino acid that can be acquired from foods like nuts and fish. The l arginine rich diet sources are:
- Eggs
- Dairy products like yogurt, kefir, and cheese
- Beef
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Beef and chicken liver
- Wild-caught fish
- Coconut
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Seaweed
- Sea vegetables
- Walnuts
- Almonds
Conclusion
L arginine is a crucial amino acid with a long list of health advantages. This amino acid has several advantages, including lowering the risk of heart disease and improving exercise performance. It is readily available in meals that you eat. If you’re taking it as a supplement, however, keep an eye on the quantity. L Arginine supplements in excess of the recommended dose can induce a variety of adverse effects. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, you should talk to your doctor before taking l arginine pills.
