Arginine amino acid and its relationship to erectile dysfunction
l arginine ornithine, arginine ethyl ester are different forms of this amino acid nutrient

L Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, is involved in numerous areas of human biochemistry, including ammonia detoxification, hormone secretion, and immune modulation. Arginine is also well known as a precursor to nitric oxide (NO), a key component of endothelial-derived relaxing factor, an endogenous messenger molecule involved in a variety of endothelium-dependent physiological effects in the cardiovascular system.
   L-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid synthesized by the body from ornithine. Arginine supports protein synthesis as it is involved in the transport and storage of nitrogen. Arginine is important for proper physical performance because it is used by the body to produce creatine.

L Arginine 750 mg, 60 Capsules

L Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid synthesized by the body from ornithine. Arginine supports protein synthesis as it is involved in the transport and storage of nitrogen.  Among many functions, L Arginine is used by the body to produce creatine.  Each arginine supplement tablet contains 750 mg elemental L Arginine.

Usage: Take 1 to 6 arginine supplement tablets daily, or as directed by your qualified health consultant.
Serving Size 1 Tablet
L Arginine  - 750 mg

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Nitric oxide and blood vessel dilation
A number of substances are produced and secreted by endothelial cells in blood vessels, the most important of which is nitric oxide, a potent regulator of vascular function. Nitric oxide diffuses from endothelial cells into underlying smooth muscle, causing relaxation, which results in dilation of blood vessels. When this process is inhibited or inadequate the arteries cannot dilate as necessary, resulting in reduced blood flow. Such endothelial dysfunction also causes increased platelet and monocyte clumping and smooth muscle proliferation, processes that begin the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Arginine and erectile dysfunction
A study done at the University of Texas at Austin examined the effects of arginine, combined with yohimbe, on sexual arousal in postmenopausal women. Twenty-four women participated in three sessions in which sexual responses to erotic stimuli were measured following treatment with either arginine glutamate (6 g) plus yohimbine (6 mg), yohimbine alone (6 mg), or a placebo, using a randomized, double-blind design. Sexual responses were measured at one hour after taking the supplements. Compared to the placebo, the combined oral administration of arginine and yohimbine substantially increased vaginal pulse amplitude responses to the erotic film. It is well known that yohimbine, alone, has a significant effect on sexuality and whether arginine was a factor is not known. Most likely arginine has very little influence, as a supplement, in the treatment of impotence.

Arginine products
Most companies who provide an arginine product are likely to be equivalent in their arginine quality since many will buy the arginine from good raw material suppliers.
L Arginine 750 mg from Club Natural
L Arginine Jarrow Formulas - 1,000 mg, 100 Easy-Solv Tablets. Each tablet contains 1000 mg elemental L-Arginine from 1204 mg L-Arginine Hydrochloride.
L Arginine Source Naturals
 

Other potential benefits of Arginine amino acid
Supplemental arginine reduces pulmonary resistance and blood pressure, as well as improving the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide production, according to results from a recent Japanese study.

Arginine supplementation improves renal function in patients with chronic heart failure. This was the finding of a study from another Japanese university.

Polish researchers have found that arginine supplementation increases exercise tolerance in stable coronary artery disease patients.

Watermelon eating increases arginine levels
Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults.
Nutrition. 2007 March. Collins JK, Wu G, Perkins-Veazie P, Spears K, Claypool PL, Baker RA, Clevidence BA. USDA-ARS, South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Lane, Oklahoma, USA.
Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline, an amino acid that can be metabolized to arginine, a conditionally essential amino acid for humans. Arginine is the nitrogenous substrate used in the synthesis of nitric oxide and plays an essential role in cardiovascular and immune functions. No detailed studies have been conducted to evaluate plasma arginine response in humans after long-term feeding of citrulline from natural plant sources. This study investigated if watermelon juice consumption increases fasting concentrations of plasma arginine, ornithine, and citrulline in healthy adult humans. Subjects consumed a controlled diet and 0 (control), 780, or 1560 g of watermelon juice per day for 3 weeks in a crossover design. The treatments provided 1 and 2 g of citrulline per day. Compared with the baseline, fasting plasma arginine concentrations increased 12% after 3 wk of the lower-dose watermelon treatment; arginine and ornithine concentrations increased 22% and 18%, respectively, after 3 wk of the higher-dose watermelon treatment. Fasting citrulline concentrations did not increase relative to the control but remained stable throughout the study. The increased fasting plasma concentrations of arginine and ornithine and stable concentrations of plasma citrulline in response to watermelon juice consumption indicated that the citrulline from this plant origin was effectively converted into arginine.

Coadministration of Ornithine and alpha-Ketoglutarate Is No More Effective Than Ornithine Alone As an Arginine Precursor in Piglets Enterally Fed an Arginine-Deficient Diet.
J Nutr. 2007 Jan;137(1):55-62. Urschel KL, et al. Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5; 3The Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1X8 the Departments of 4Paediatrics and 5Nutritional Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1X8.
Simultaneous administration of alpha-ketoglutarate and ornithine, in a 1:2 molar ratio, may improve the effectiveness of ornithine as an arginine precursor in neonatal piglets by shifting ornithine metabolism away from oxidation and toward the synthesis of arginine and other metabolically important compounds. To study this proposed mechanism, enterally fed piglets were allocated to receive 1 of 4 diets for 5 d: an arginine -deficient diet (basal), or the basal diet supplemented with either alpha-ketoglutarate, ornithine, or both ornithine and alpha-ketoglutarate. The diets did not affect plasma arginine or ammonia concentrations, arginine flux, or arginine synthesis from ornithine. Therefore, arginine synthesis was not increased by the simultaneous infusion of ornithine and alpha-ketoglutarate. Piglets that received dietary ornithine had a 2-fold greater rate of proline synthesis from ornithine and oxidized a greater portion of the infused ornithine than piglets in the basal and +alpha-ketoglutarate groups. Overall, ornithine addition to an arginine deficient diet had a greater effect on ornithine and arginine metabolism than the addition of alpha-ketoglutarate. First-pass intestinal metabolism was critical for ornithine synthesis and conversion to other metabolites but not for ornithine oxidation.
arginine ornithine

Arginine and fertility
Q. I have been researching the use of L-Arginine on the Web and am at a loss as to what to conclude. Many web sites and authorities cite older studies that indicate that L-Arginine Supplementation (may be beneficial for human male and female fertility. They cite information such as improved sperm motility and quality and number. The research appears to be pre year 2000. My wife and I are endeavoring to have a child and I take natural supplements to assist with the erection and intimacy. I am about mid 40s and she is about 30 years old. I have ceased using L-Arginine since coming across a reference to the article (see Article 2) below. I am not sure what to make of the impact of L-Arginine on human male/female fertility in the context of Article 2 below. Can you please help me with understanding if L-Arginine impacts human male or female fertility positively or negatively? Is Article 2 still correct in the context of what appears to be a 2006 Article 1? Does L-Arginine positively impact human male and female fertility or because of research in Article 2, should it be avoided?

Mechanism of Action of L-arginine on the Vitality of Spermatozoa is Primarily Through Increased Biosynthesis of Nitric Oxide
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 74, 954–958 (2006) Sudha Srivastava, Prashant Desai, Evans Coutinho, and Girjesh Govil. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai, India Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Bombay College of Pharmacy, Kalina, Mumbai-98, India
The ability of sperm to fertilize the egg is primarily dependent on sperm motility and membrane integrity. Nitric oxide (NO) plays a decisive role in regulating multiple functions within the male reproductive system. The aim of the present study is to determine the mechanism by which L-arginine confers a protective action on spermatozoa obtained from the goat epididymis. NO is synthesized from L-arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide-synthase (NOS) present in spermatozoa. A possible participation of NO and NOS in arginine action has been suggested.

L-arginine, the substrate of nitric oxide synthase, inhibits fertility of male rats
Asian J Androl 2001 Jun; 3: 97-103. W. D. Ratnasooriya, M. G. Dharmasiri. Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
Keywords: L-arginine; nitric oxide; fertility; libido; sex behavior; pre-implantation loss; sperm motility; To examine the effect of L-arginine, the substrate of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, on reproductive function of male rats. Male rats were gavaged with either L-arginine (100 or 200 mg·kg-1·d-1), D-arginine (200 mg·kg-1·d-1) or vehicle (0.9% NaCl) for seven consecutive days. L-arginine (200 mg/kg) had no significant effect on sexual competence (in terms of sexual arousal, libido, sexual vigour and sexual performance). In mating experiments, the higher dose of L-arginine effectively and reversibly inhibited fertility, whilst the lower dose and the inactive stereoisomer D-arginine had no significant effect. The antifertility effect caused by L-arginine was due to a profound elevation in the preimplantation loss mediated possibly by impairment in epididymal sperm maturation, hyperactivated sperm motility and sperm capacitation. Elevated NO production may be detrimental to male fertility.

Answer: The results of studies in rodents do not necessarily apply to humans. We prefer relying on human studies.

Arginine study
Dietary supplementation with L-arginine or placebo in women with pre-eclampsia.
Staff AC.. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ulleval University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, 0450 Oslo, Norway.
To investigate the effect of dietary intake of the NO-donor L-arginine on the diastolic blood pressure in women with pre-eclampsia. A randomized double-blind study was designed to compare the effect of L-arginine and placebo in pre-eclamptic women with gestational length ranging from 28+0 to 36+0 weeks. The women received orally 12 g of L-arginine or placebo daily for up to 5 days. The primary end-point was to identify a difference in diastolic blood pressure alteration between the two groups after 2 days of intervention. Secondary end-points included the interval from study start to delivery, the proportion of women delivered after 2, 5 or 10 days from treatment start and mean birth weight. There was no statistically significant alteration in diastolic blood pressure in the L-arginine group compared with the placebo group after 2 days of treatment (p = 0.4). No differences in the proportions of women delivered by day 2, 5 or 10 after study start, in the mean interval from study start to delivery, or in mean birth weight percentile were observed between the two groups. Oral L-arginine supplementation did not reduce mean diastolic blood pressure after 2 days of treatment compared with placebo in pre-eclamptic patients with gestational length varying from 28 to 36 weeks. Whether L-arginine treatment could be clinically beneficial for the mother or the fetus if started earlier in the disease process than for the women in our study remains to be seen.

Adjuvant L-arginine treatment for in-vitro fertilization in poor responder patients.
Battaglia C. University of Udine, Italy.
Hum Reprod. 1999 Jul;14(7):1690-7.
The objective of the present study was prospectively and randomly to evaluate the role of L-arginine in improving uterine and follicular Doppler flow and in improving ovarian response to gonadotrophin in poor responder women. A total of 34 patients undergoing assisted reproduction was divided in two groups according to different ovarian stimulation protocols: (i) flare-up gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) plus elevated pure follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH) (n = 17); and (ii) flare-up GnRHa plus elevated pFSH plus oral L-arginine (n = 17). During the ovarian stimulation regimen, the patients were submitted to hormonal (oestradiol and growth hormone), ultrasonographic (follicular number and diameter, endometrial thickness) and Doppler (uterine and perifollicular arteries) evaluations. Furthermore, the plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of arginine, citrulline, nitrite/nitrate (NO2-/NO3-), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were assayed. All 34 patients completed the study. In the L-arginine treated group a lower cancellation rate, an increased number of oocytes collected, and embryos transferred were observed. In the same group, increased plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of arginine, citrulline, NO2-/NO3-, and IGF-1 was observed. Significant Doppler flow improvement was obtained in the L-arginine supplemented group. Three pregnancies were registered in these patients. No pregnancies were observed in the other group. It was concluded that oral L-arginine supplementation in poor responder patients may improve ovarian response, endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rate.

Oral L-arginine improves endothelial function in healthy individuals older than 70 years.
Bode-Boger SM. Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
Ageing is associated with progressive endothelial dysfunction in normal humans. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery is impaired in elderly individuals with cardiovascular disease and vascular nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is reduced. We investigated whether oral L-arginine, the substrate for NO synthesis, can improve impaired FMD in healthy very old people. In a prospective, double-blind, randomized crossover trial, 12 healthy old subjects (age 73) took L-arginine (8 g p.o. two times daily) or placebo for 14 days each, separated by a wash-out period of 14 days. FMD was determined by high-resolution ultrasound in the brachial artery during reactive hyperaemia. Baseline artery diameter was 3.88 . L-Arginine significantly improved FMD, whereas placebo had no effect. After L-arginine, plasma levels of L-arginine increased significantly, but placebo had no effect. As NO synthesis can be antagonized by its endogenous inhibitor asymmetric dimethyl L-arginine (ADMA), we determined ADMA plasma concentrations, which were elevated at baseline in comparison to healthy middle-aged individuals. ADMA remained unchanged during treatment, but L-arginine supplementation normalized the L-arginine/ADMA ratio. We conclude that in healthy very old age endothelial function is impaired and may be improved by oral L-arginine supplementation, probably due to normalization of the L-arginine/ADMA ratio.

Arginine supplementation improves renal function in patients with chronic heart failure. This was the finding of a study from another Japanese university.

Arginine amino acid emails
Q. Should arginine be taken with meals or on an empty stomach?
   A. Arginine is probably more effective when taken on an empty stomach.

Q. Can I take arginine regularly for many months? Is arginine a male enhancement vitamin?
   A. As with most nutrients, I recommend taking breaks from use. In the case of arginine, it appears to be safe to take for extended periods as long as the dose is less than 2 grams a day. Arginine is not a vitamin, it is an amino acid.

Q. Can arginine be use as supplement to reduce incidence of asthma or  bronchial spasm? Would supplementation of arginine together with ornithine inhibit arginase activity and channel substrate use for production of nitric oxide instead of ornithine and proline? Can arginine be used for erectile dysfunction at less than  grams a day?
   A. We are not aware of research regarding the benefit of arginine for asthma. We have not seen research regarding the effects of arginine and proline interaction when used as suppleemnts. In our opinion, arginine has limited usefulness for erectile dysfunction.

Q. Is arginine better to take as a capsule or powder?
   A. It depends on how much you plan to take. If your dose is 500 mg, the capsule works. If you plan to take several grams, then the powder is more efficient.

Q. What is Arginine Plus
   A. According to a website, Arginine Plus is a combination of arginine, ornithine and glutamine. The website claims that Arginine Plus delays aging. This is obviously a statement that cannot be supported by research since no such studies with Arginine Plus have been done. Hence, the integrity of the people at Bio Young Arginine Plus is to be questioned.

Q. I have been reading that L-arginine is good for cardio health, production of Nitric Oxide, circulation, etc. But I have also read articles about concerns for free radicals because it is being added to the system and not created whereas citrulline maleate is a precursor to L-arginine and therefore prompts the body to create more Arginine itself. Here is the information I was reading: I would add citrulline malate is a precursor to arginine in our bodies. Taking arginine directly will have a good effect, but it also leads to the creation of free radicals because it is added to the system and not created. Hence the body thinks that something is awry and tries to compensate. With citrulline malate, the body sees this is as normal, uses its natural hormonal system to create arginine in response to citrulline. Excess citrulline maleate then also does something really cool; it scavenges free radicals and also removes ammonia from your system (ammonia being a by product of muscle building). If you do supp directly with arginine, it is probably a good idea to take some strong antioxidants to deal with the free radicals. I think alpha lipoic acid is the best. Which of these supplementation methods would be more beneficial / less destructive to the body or should both be passed up. The idea sounds valid. I like to go as natural I can and let the body create what it needs naturally with help if needed. I don't really want to bypass the bodies ability to create what it needs unless it is safe.
   A. Hi, we have no reason to believe at this point that arginine or citrulline are beneficial as supplements to heart health. We have seen no research comparing the benefit of arginine versus citrulline in humans to know which is better. There are many other supplements that could potentially be beneficial for heart disease prevention or treatment. See heart disease.

Q. Data out there states that if you have genital herpes you should not take L Arginine . Is it a concern for health or just that it may stimulate an out break of herpes. The l- Arginine would be to help with erectile dysfunction. Is a 500 mg capsule taken 3 times a day considered a low daily dose or high.
   A. We have not seen any specific human research that arginine supplementation leads to genital herpes outbreaks. We also are not convinced that l arginine is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. A high dose of arginine would be in the 5 to 10 gram area.

Q. Does arginine help Impotence?
   A. We are not impressed with arginine for erectile help. For sexual enhancement, see tongkat ali net website.  When new data on arginine benefits and the role of arginine and erectile dysfunction are published, we will mention the results on this page. For more up to date erectile dysfunction herb info.

Q. Does arginine promote sexual health?
   A. We have not found arginine to be a potent sexual health improving nutrient. Tribulus terrestris extract supplement is more effective.

Q. In reference to e-mails about arginine. It appears there is no reason for a woman to take it. I just read a page at Jewish Hospital that said they have had good results in treating Prinzmetal's angina with 1200 mg of arginine. From what I read there and elsewhere Prinzmetal's angina is more prevalent in women. Also Jewish Hospital recorded that it can help lower some cases of high blood pressure. Thoughts?
   A. As of March 2008, we could not find any research published on Medline regarding the role of arginine supplements and Prinzmetal's angina. The effects of arginine supplements on blood pressure are transient and we don't consider arginine to be an effective supplement for long term blood pressure control.

Q. Do you know of a supplement that can offset the cold sore effect of taking arginine supplements?
   A. We are not yet convinced that arginine supplement use leads to cold sores since we await full clinical trials. However, some people claim lysine supplements are helpful but we have no proof of lysine being effective. Arginine study results will be published on a regular basis.

Q. In the recent past I had a prescription for atenolol (high blood pressure) which I have discontinued and am now taking 2000 mg of L-Arginine supplement (twice a day) (with the doctors blessing). Arginine supplement has lowered my blood pressure to the range that atenolol provided. It is my understanding that L-Arginine is also considered the “poor mans Viagra”. I’m not so sure about that!