Recently I have been curious about the rants and raves about Arginine as a supplement for weight training, like all the supplements I take I investigate it thoroughly making sure that the research behind it is sound.

Regarding the rants and raves I have to admit it peaked my interest, until I discovered the following:

This study investigated the combined effect of resistance exercise and arginine supplementation on growth hormone (GH) release. Eight healthy male subjects were studied randomly on four separate occasions; when they took a placebo, arginine, placebo plus exercise and arginine plus exercise. The subjects had their blood sampled every 10 minutes for 3.5 hours after the workout.

After baseline sampling, the participants ingested their supplement (a 7 gram dose of arginine or placebo). The researchers and participants were blinded to the treatment at all times. On the days the participants performed resistance exercise, they completed a series of exercises using 80% of their single repetition maximum.

Results showed that the dose of arginine was able to stimulate GH release, but a greater GH response was seen from exercise alone. However, the most interesting finding was that the combined effect of taking arginine before the workout actually blunted the GH response from training.

GH plays an integral role in the muscle growth, fat-loss response to exercise. However, the results of this study suggest that taking arginine before a workout decreases the GH response to exercise. Therefore, taking a arginine-based supplement before a workout maybe counter-productive to the results desired from training.

Ref: S. R. Collier, E. Collins, and J. A. Kanaley
Oral arginine attenuates the growth hormone response to resistance exercise
J Appl Physiol 101: 848-852, 2006.

This appears to be confirmed in a more recent review:
Growth hormone, arginine and exercise.

Protein, amino acid metabolism and therapy
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care. 11(1):50-54, January 2008.
Kanaley, Jill A

Summary: Exercise is a very potent stimulator of growth hormone release and there is considerable research documenting the dramatic growth hormone rise. At rest oral L-arginine ingestion will enhance the growth hormone response and the combination of arginine plus exercise increases growth hormone, but this increase may be less than seen with exercise alone. This diminished response is seen in both in both younger and older individuals.

Although Arginine may increase GH when taken without concomitant exercise, I would prefere Glutamine as GH secretagogue at other times of the day over Arginine, thus my conclusion is to not purchase this supplement.

Unless anyone can convince me otherwise.

I've been using AAKG quite heavily over the past month or so and I can honestly say it's a bit crap... I won't be buying it again.

Bison wrote:I've been using AAKG quite heavily over the past month or so and I can honestly say it's a bit crap... I won't be buying it again.

what ratio was you using; 1:1 or 2:1

this thread may be of intrest.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=809

I will be interested to see some reviews on Glycocarn

kp1512 wrote:

Bison wrote:I've been using AAKG quite heavily over the past month or so and I can honestly say it's a bit crap... I won't be buying it again.

what ratio was you using; 1:1 or 2:1

It was from MP... no idea what ratio they use tbh.

Cost wise I'd much rather spend my money on OKG and BA than arginine.

Bison wrote:

kp1512 wrote:

Bison wrote:I've been using AAKG quite heavily over the past month or so and I can honestly say it's a bit crap... I won't be buying it again.

what ratio was you using; 1:1 or 2:1

It was from MP... no idea what ratio they use tbh.

Cost wise I'd much rather spend my money on OKG and BA than arginine.

Id agree...I think a few grams of AAKG does give a decent NO response....thats if you like that kind of stuff