ARGININE SUPPLEMENTATION GOOD FOR THE HEART

Arginine is an essential amino acid that has many effects in the body including the heart and blood vessels. In a randomized, cross-over design, 16 men with elevated cholesterol consumed 12 g of L-arginine or placebo per day for 3 weeks. Compared to placebo, arginine supplementation resulted in significant reductions in blood pressure. It also led to a decrease in blood homocysteine levels, which is an important risk factor for heart disease. Other research has also shown arginine to positively influence blood vessel function. Research looks promising for arginine supplementation on cardiovascular function.

Likos-Krick A, et al. L-arginine supplements produce different effects in individuals with high vs. low C-reactive protein. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Washington D.C., April, 2004. Abstract #600.9.