L-Arginine Nitrate Supplement Review & Side Effects for Bodybuilding

Strength-training athletes and bodybuilders supplement their diets with arginine nitrate to enhance performance.

Arginine nitrate (C6H15N5O5) comprises one molecule of the amino acid arginine (C6H14N4O2) and a nitrate group (NO3) connected by a hydrogen bond (H).

Arginine nitrate is thought to prolong vasodilation – the expansion of blood vessels – more than L-arginine alone.

L-arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide (NO). NO is a signalling molecule that induces vasodilation, relaxes smooth muscle tissue and reduces ammonia accumulations, to name only a few of its many physiological functions.

L-arginine is used for improving athletic performance and recovery time after workouts.

L-arginine is taken for a variety of other conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction (ED), preeclampsia, inflammation, male infertility and the common cold.

Nitrate supplements are used by athletes to prevent excessive oxygen use during workouts, improve blood flow, increase endurance, promote mitochondrial energy increase, increase power and improve recovery time.

L-Arginine

Amino Acid

Pre-Workout

Muscle Growth

Sexual Health

How It Works:

• Boosts nitric oxide production for workouts
• Reduces fatigue & promotes muscle growth
• Supports immune function & sexual health

Dosage:

Between 3 - 6 g per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Arginine Nitrate: What is Arginine?

Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that was discovered in 1886.

“Semi-essential” means that the human body can manufacture arginine, but there are times when arginine must be consumed.

For instance, individuals who produce excessive amounts of ammonia, suffer from protein malnutrition or consume too much lysine may have low arginine levels. [1]

Symptoms of arginine deficiency include hair loss, rashes, slow-healing wounds, jaundice and/or chronic constipation. Arginine deficiency is a rare occurrence for people in developed countries.

Arginine is found in high-protein foods and is also available as a supplement.

L-arginine is integral for the health and maintenance of many bodily systems, including: immune, endocrine, hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular, reproductive, pulmonary and circulatory systems.

As a supplement, L-arginine is commonly taken to increase nitric oxide levels. L-arginine is a substrate for the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, which acts on L-arginine to produce nitric oxide.

Arginine Nitrate: What is Nitrate?

Nitrate (NO3) is naturally produced in the body by nitric oxide. Nitrate induces vasodilation – the expansion of blood vessels and the relaxation of smooth muscle tissue – which may help support blood flow.

Nitrate appears to have a regulating effect on blood pressure, which may support cardiovascular health.

Nitrates are contained in vegetables, especially beets, turnips and leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale.

Increased nitrate consumption is hypothesized to be the link between vegetable consumption and cardiovascular health. Nitrate is thought to reduce the amount of oxygen used during periods of exercise.

It has not been observed to increase power output, but there is some evidence that it reduces exercise-related fatigue.

Excessive consumption of arginine nitrate may lead to the accumulation of carcinogenic nitrosamines. Research is underway to understand the effects of these nitrosamines on the human body.

Combining Arginine and Nitrate

Arginine is used by athletes who want to improve their endurance, performance and muscle strength. While arginine is a direct precursor of NO, it has a short half life, meaning its levels drop rapidly. As a result, its effects on vasodilation are short-lived.

Arginine and nitrate are combined to increase the duration of vasodilation. Nitrates have an eight-hour half life. Nitrate intolerance is reduced when the supplement is taken in combination with arginine.

Stacking Arginine Nitrate with L-Citrulline

L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid and, like L-arginine, is a precursor of nitric oxide.

L-citrulline has been observed to increase nitric oxide levels more than L-arginine.

Combining L-arginine and L-citrulline seems to increase nitric oxide levels beyond the sum of their individual effects.

Like arginine, citrulline is known to eliminate ammonia accumulations from cells. Ammonia is created as a by-product of physical activity. It makes the muscles feel fatigued and sore.

L-Citrulline is converted to arginine in the kidneys. The arginine converted from L-citrulline appears to be more readily absorbed by the body than oral L-arginine.

L-citrulline supplementation has been observed to increase plasma arginine levels more than L-arginine supplements.

Conclusions

Arginine nitrate is used for exercise performance and to increase the duration of vasodilation. It is sometimes combined with L-citrulline to further extend vasodilation. However, the ability of L-arginine to increase nitric oxide levels is inconsistent in otherwise healthy adults.

There is little research on arginine nitrate and its effects on vasodilation. In addition, there are no studies available on the effects of combining this supplement with L-citrulline.

Taking arginine nitrate inappropriately or for prolonged periods of time may cause bloating, abdominal pains, airway inflammation, hypotension (low blood pressure), headaches, gout, blood abnormalities and worsening of allergy or asthma symptoms.

Women who are nursing or pregnant should not use arginine nitrate supplements without the approval of their doctor. Do not use arginine nitrate if you have recently suffered a heart attack.

In addition, arginine nitrate supplementation is not recommended for those with low blood pressure, herpes and/or upcoming surgical procedures.

In all cases, be sure to speak with your doctor before you take arginine nitrate to make sure the supplement is right for you.

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