What is L- Arginine? How Will L-Arginine Benefit You?

What is L-arginine? L-arginine is an amino acid found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy according to WebMD. It’s required for protein production and is commonly used for circulation.

L-arginine is present in dietary supplements due to its interactions with a tiny molecule called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a chemical that results from the transformation of L-arginine. Blood vessels open wider as a result of nitric oxide, allowing more blood to flow through them. The production of L-arginine increases the release of growth hormone, insulin, and other substances in the body. It may be manufactured in a lab and used as a dietary supplement.

L-arginine is used to treat chest pain and other blow flow problems, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and a serious disease in premature infants called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

L-arginine benefits

Approximately 60% of the L-arginine consumed is broken down by the gastrointestinal system, with only 40% circulating throughout the body. As a result, to enhance levels in the body, supplementation is frequently required. There is no daily requirement for L-arginine as a conditionally essential amino acid. However, researchers have studied the impact of L-arginine supplementation on human health, suggesting a wide range of health benefits.

L-ARGININE IS A CONDITIONALLY ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID

Although essential, L-arginine is a conditionally required amino acid, which means there are periods when it is required and times when it isn’t.

WHEN L-ARGININE IS A NON-ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID

L-Arginine is a non-essential amino acid in healthy, uninjured persons. It also implies that it is being generated and can be used to convert into nitric oxide. It also creates such important molecules as creatine, glutamate, ornithine, polyamines, agmatine, proline, dimethylarginine, and urea. L-Arginine is a non-essential amino acid, because L-arginine levels in healthy adults may be sufficient to be classified as such. However, it is preferable to increase L-arginine levels through diet in order to maintain optimal functionality.

WHEN L-ARGININE IS AN ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID

L-Arginine is required in the formation of certain proteins in young organisms. Breast-fed infants receive approximately 45 mg/kg/day of arginine from human milk, which is essential for their growth and development.

When bioavailability drops in adults, L-arginine becomes an essential amino acid since we aren’t making enough endogenously. The following are some of the major reasons for decreases in L-arginine:

  • Trauma
  • Physical injury
  • Burn injury
  • Severe illness
  • Stress
  • Endothelial dysfunction 

IS L-ARGININE NATURALLY PRODUCED IN THE BODY?

According to research, it only takes 30 minutes for vasodilation to occur when people take 30g of L-arginine. L-Arginine has a half-life of about 1-2 hours in various tissues and is absorbed within the first 24 hours of intake, according to a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

It’s an ongoing process to improve L-arginine nitric oxide levels. While there is the capacity to raise concentrations at specific intervals for a desired goal, maintaining a diet high in L-arginine is still the most effective approach.

SHOULD YOU TAKE L-ARGININE WHEN YOU’RE SICK?

Yes, taking supplements that include L-arginine and L-citrulline is a wonderful idea when the body is ill or injured. This is true for both internal and external physical problems, including cuts. The most sophisticated approach to prevent disease and aid wound healing is to practice continuous immune function support.This can be somewhat assisted by eating a L-arginine-rich diet and ensuring that L-arginine-rich foods are included in your morning routine to provide your body with a boost of nitric oxide. L-Arginine activates and supports the immune system through nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a neurotransmitter that helps signal immunological fighting cells to go where they need to go and combat viruses and bacteria that have been identified in the body. L-arginine aids in immunological function by:

  • Transporting immune cells
  • Increasing oxygen to immune cells
  • Increasing blood flow to help immune cells travel faster

WHAT IS THE BEST SOURCE OF L-ARGININE?

L-arginine is found in the body, obtained from high L-arginine and L-citrulline meals, and given through various pills that are produced in the manufacturing process. The most common method for manufacturing polyglutamine protein is by fermentation and hydrolysis of low-cost protein sources such as gelatin.

HOW ABOUT L-ARGININE SUPPLEMENTS?

The most common usage of L-arginine is to enhance blood flow, especially while exercising but also for other reasons such as cardiac damage and erectile dysfunction.

It’s the most popular blood flow enhancing pill because it’s included in many pre-workouts, which are the genre’s foundation element and where it derives its name (as an explanation for why it isn’t “just a stimulant”).

Others say that L-arginine, because L-arginine increases blood flow, it also helps the body deliver more nutrients to the muscles. That notion is incorrect and short-sighted in light of the fact that if your body couldn’t provide nutrients to your muscle tissue during exercise, you’d probably pass out or possibly die from a blood clot.

Does L-Arginine Work?

The money question, of course, is whether L-arginine is effective.

Yes, yes it is.

There are a few drawbacks, however there are also solid justifications for why you shouldn’t rush out and buy L-arginine. L-arginine increases blood flow, but it is somewhat unreliable in doing so, and if increasing blood flow is your goal, there are other options available already.

It really boils down to two words: nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small gas that dilates blood vessels and allows blood to flow more easily when it is produced. It has a very short shelf life before it degrades, so promoting NO production isn’t effective; instead, we should concentrate on things that encourage the body to create more.

Nitric oxide is made from L-arginine, which is present in many foods. When nitrogen is removed from L-arginine by the enzyme Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), it is paired with oxygen to generate NO; subsequently, L-citrulline is produced as a byproduct.

Finally, as a result of the process known as transamination, L-citrulline is converted to L-arginine in the kidneys. As a result, it keeps the cycle going.

The bottom line

L-arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that may be found in food or purchased as a supplement. According to studies, L-arginine supplements may help with a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic syndromes. If you’re a patient considering L-arginine supplementation, consult with your integrative healthcare provider for personalized advice.