The first isolation of L-arginine happened in 1886, but it was not a major subject of research until the 1930s when researchers learned that l-arginine is responsible for the creation of urin (a waste product) that is necessary for toxic ammonia to be removed from the body. Scientists also discovered that l-arginine is needed by the body to make creatine. Since L-arginine instigates the body to synthesise more protein, it has been applied for wound healing, bodybuilding and the enhancement of sperm production (spermatogenesis).The 1998 Nobel prize discovery of the role which the nitric oxide gas (NO) plays in intracellular communication has added more prominence to l-arginine. In the body, L-arginine is the major source for nitric oxide synthesis, which relaxes the blood vessels (vasodilation) and reduces stress on the heart by improving blood circulation. Without nitric oxide, human life can not be maintained. The current clinical studies have proven that L-arginine supplementation administrated in high dosages can significantly improve medical conditions of the following health problems:❑ blood vessel swelling that causes headaches (vascular headaches);
❑ intermittent claudication/peripheral vascular disease (interruption of blood flow in legs);
❑ clogged arteries (called atherosclerosis);
❑ chest pain;
❑ coronary artery disease;
❑ heart failure;
❑ erectile dysfunction;
❑ wound healing;
❑ helping the kidneys remove waste products from the body;
❑ maintaining immune and hormone function.
Today L-arginine is best known for its cardiovascular benefits. Scientific studies have shown that L-arginine enhances health in many ways. It improves immune function and stimulates the release of human growth hormone (HGH). It also boosts energy levels, helps to build muscle, reduces adipose (or unneeded) tissue body fat and reinforces sexual function.
Dietary supplementation with L-arginine has shown to be beneficial in many studies. The most prominent clinical trial took place in The High Desert Heart Institute, one of the most prestigious heart institutes in the United States. Each patient received extensive diagnostic testing which generated approximately 7,000 points of data.
L-Arginine in Food
News and Research Papers
❑ Deficiency of L-arginine in chronic kidney disease.
❑ L-arginine stimulates insulin secretion.
❑ Arginase and asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) deplete L-arginine in the body.
❑ L -citrulline protects L-arginine against depletion.