Does L-Arginine Work & What are the Real Effects?

Does L-arginine work for treating various health conditions?

Yes, it has been clinically proven to work to provide an array of health benefits. For instance, strength training athletes favor L-arginine as it is a precursor to NO (Nitric Oxide).

Nitric Oxide is known to relax the endothelium, the inner lining of the blood vessels, allowing them to relax and expand.

This expansion allows for enhanced blood delivery throughout the body, without any associated increases in blood pressure.

For athletes, this means that their muscles can receive more oxygen, nutrients and proteins before, during and after their workouts. This is believed to lead to increases in the size of muscles, how strong they are, and how much exercise they can safely endure.

Further, the lasting “pump” effects of NO enhance muscular healing after workouts.

L-arginine has been proven to promote these and other benefits for improved overall health, injury recovery and athletic performance.

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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How Does L-Arginine Work?

Many physicians utilize the benefits of L-arginine supplements in clinical settings.

Surgeons rely on it as a precursor of nitric oxide to induce vasodilation, helping to ensure sufficient blood deliver during surgical procedures.

For many patients, the sedating effects of anesthesia cause difficulties for weak heart muscle to deliver blood effectively.

With vasodilation, increased blood flow volume does not increase neither systolic nor diastolic blood pressure levels.

Also, L-arginine is commonly prescribed to prevent muscular wasting when post-surgery patients are undergoing lengthy recovery periods. This is also effective at helping victims of HIV.

L-arginine is believed to work beneficially for all of the following:

• Alleviating the chest pains associated with angina and/or peripheral artery disease;
• Boosting immune system performance;
• Diminishing the symptoms of erectile dysfunction;
• Treating male and female infertility;
• Increasing libido;
• Treating hypertensive disorders;
• Decreasing kidney inflammation;
• Decreasing healing time after surgery, and athletic workouts;
• Regulating the urea cycle and helps to eliminate harmful chemicals like ammonia;
• Easing migraine suffering

Which Foods Contain L-Arginine?

L-arginine is a common constituent in many foods including:

• Red meat, fowl and various species of fish;
• Corn;
• Wheat germ and oats;
• Various nuts and seeds;
• Buckwheat, wild rice and various high-fiber cereals;
• Various dairy products;
• Raw chocolate

What Other Health Conditions Does L-Arginine Work For?

L-arginine continues to be a popular target of research studies on a worldwide basis.

Current research is being conducted concerning L-arginine and its role as a treatment for symptoms of cancer, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, stroke, obesity, burns, trauma, the common cold, dementia and much more.

Although there has not currently been enough clinical studies conducted to definitively determine any specific guidelines for L-arginine use in these conditions, there is sufficient clinical evidence to warrant further testing.

L-arginine Supplement Dosing

Currently, there is no official recommended dosage amount for L-arginine supplements to take.

Because there are many possible uses for it, dosage suggestions vary greatly depending on the source and reason for taking it.

Different clinical studies have tested different amounts for an assortment of health conditions. L-Arginine has been found to work at doses between 3 – 18 g per day.

Because adult humans are able to synthesize their own L-arginine, and derive it from various dietary sources, deficiencies are quite rare. When deficiencies do happen, it can result in reduced libido, fertility and sperm count.

However, therapeutic dosages from commercial L-arginine supplements can promote health in ways above and beyond protecting against deficiency. Supplements are available in powder and tablet forms of varying strengths.

An average dosage to consider would be between 2 and 3 grams, three times daily. The effects of long-term L-arginine supplementation are not clear; hence consider limiting usage to an 8-week period before discontinuing use for several weeks.

Is L-Arginine Safe for You?

L-arginine is one of the twenty most abundant amino acids and is a constituent of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid). Our human bodies rely on it for a number of biological purposes and it is generally very well tolerated when used as a supplement.

However, because it is a precursor to nitric oxide which induces generalized vasodilation it is not recommended for people with the following conditions:

• Cancer, liver disease or kidney problems;
• Sickle cell anemia or bleeding disorders;
• Asthma and/or allergies;
• Low blood pressure;

High dosages have been associated with short-term digestive issues such as diarrhea.

Also, L-arginine supplementation may interact negatively with antihypertensive medications. It could also interact with medications for erectile dysfunction, infertility, birth control, thinning the blood, heartburn, acid reflux disease, high blood pressure and/or pain alleviation.

Please always consult with your doctor before starting L-arginine supplementation. While L-Arginine has been shown to work to produce a number of health benefits, results may vary from person to person.

Those using it for muscle building should take it as part of a complete weight lifting and diet program designed to increase lean muscle mass.

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