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Arginine - stimulates immune function and acts as a precursor for nitric oxide, a compound that relaxes blood vessels. 1 It has been used effectively for increasing blood flow to the heart 13,14 improving functional capacity 2,3 and even kidney function 4 in those with heart disease. Improvement in post-surgery wound healing has been seen with a formula enriched with arginine, glutamine, and omega-3 fatty acids. 5,6 Arginine may also be useful for AIDS patients to decrease viral load 8 and improve weight gain. 7,9,10
Given the safety issues of nitroglycerine and Viagra, arginine use may best be avoided with this drug. Severe allergic reactions have been reported with intravenous arginine. 11
References
1. PMID: 15544543; Cellular and physiological effects of arginine. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2004 Oct;4(8):823-32.
2.PMID: 10335768; Clinical and inflammatory effects of dietary L-arginine in patients with intractable angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol. 1999 May 15;83(10):1488-90, A8.
3.PMID: 9264427; Effect of supplemental oral L-arginine on exercise capacity in patients with stable angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol. 1997 Aug 1;80(3):331-3.
4.PMID: 15226784; L-arginine supplementation prolongs exercise capacity in congestive heart failure. Kardiol Pol. 2004 Apr;60(4):348-53.
5.PMID: 8925582; Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of supplemental oral L-arginine in patients with heart failure. Circulation. 1996 Jun 15;93(12):2135-41.
6.PMID: 10694193; Effects of oral administration of L-arginine on renal function in patients with heart failure. J Hypertens. 2000 Feb;18(2):229-34.
7.PMID: 9295822; Early postoperative enteral immunonutrition: clinical outcome and cost-comparison analysis in surgical patients. Crit Care Med. 1997 Sep;25(9):1489-96.
8.PMID: 1377838; Enteral nutrition with supplemental arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids in patients after operation: immunologic, metabolic, and clinical outcome. Surgery. 1992 Jul;112(1):56-67.
9.PMID: 10850936; Nutritional treatment for acquired immunodeficiency virus-associated wasting using beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate, glutamine, and arginine: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2000 May-Jun;24(3):133-9.
10.PMID: 15080599; Supplementation with a combination of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), arginine, and glutamine is safe and could improve hematological parameters. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2004 Mar-Apr;28(2):65-75.
11.PMID: 11975938; Reversal of cancer-related wasting using oral supplementation with a combination of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, arginine, and glutamine. Am J Surg. 2002 Apr;183(4):471-9
12.PMID: 15105032; Effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, arginine, and lysine supplementation on strength, functionality, body composition, and protein metabolism in elderly women. Nutrition. 2004 May;20(5):445-51.
13.PMID: 11814282; Case report of an anaphylactoid reaction to arginine. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2002 Jan;88(1):67-8.
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