Benefits of L-Arginine

Benefits of L-Arginine

Heart Benefits:

          There are plenty of powerful new drugs to help prevent and treat chronic health problems. But we also know that certain nutrients may help as well. Take arginine, for example. Arginine has gotten lots of attention lately for its potential heart benefits. That's important because, today, about 64 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease.

    Deficiencies of arginine are rare. It's abundant in many different types of foods, and your body can also make it. Arginine-rich foods include red meat, fish, poultry, wheat germ, grains, nuts and seeds, and dairy products. But what does arginine do for the heart.

Why Do We Need Arginine?

Arginine, also known as L-arginine, is involved in a number of different functions in the body. They include

· Wound healing

· Helping the kidneys remove waste products from the body

· Maintaining immune and hormone function

As a natural dietary supplement, arginine has garnered particular attention for its possible heart benefits.

What Are Arginine's Heart Benefits?

         In the body, the amino acid arginine changes into nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter that helps blood vessels relax and also improves circulation.

       Some evidence shows that arginine may help improve blood flow in the arteries of the heart. That may improve symptoms of clogged arteries,chest pain or angina, and coronary artery disease. However, there currently is no data on how the long-term use of arginine affects cholesterol or heart health.

       Since arginine may help arteries relax and improve blood flow, it may also help with erectile dysfunction.

      There are other potential health benefits with arginine, such as possible reduction of blood pressure in some people and improved walking distance in patients with intermittent leg cramping and weakness known as intermittent claudication. However, the scientific studies are not conclusive enough for experts to make any firm recommendations.

       Not all studies on arginine have been positive. A 2006 study showed that arginine was not helpful -- and may have been harmful -- for treating heart attacks in combination with standard treatment.

Is Arginine Supplementation Safe?

     In clinical trials, arginine has been used safely with minor side effects for up to three months. Possible side effects include abdominal painand bloating, diarrhea, and gout. It may also cause a worsening of breathing in people with asthma.

   Arginine may interact with certain medications that lower blood pressure. It may also interact with certain heart medications and drugs such as Viagra that treat erectile dysfunction.

     Pregnant women and women who are nursing should not take supplements without first talking to their doctor.

How Much Arginine Is Needed Daily?

      There is no recommended daily amount established for arginine because the human body normally makes enough.

         I've got to tell you, this nutrient is right up there with my other favorite cardiac nutrients—coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine.

The amazing benefits of l-arginine extend broadly for both cardiovascular and overall health, including:

· Lowering blood pressure;

· Reducing blood stickiness in patients with high cholesterol; 

· Improving blood flow in those with significant coronary artery disease; 

· Reducing symptoms associated with claudication (pain, usually in the extremities due to a lack of blood flow); 

· Relieving congestive heart failure and improved stamina; 

· Stabilizing angina;

· Improving the painful condition known as Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers become pale, occasionally turn blue in cold temperatures); and

· Reversing impotence.

And on the heart front, specifically, L-arginine seems to know where exactly it is needed most.

Benefits of L-Arginine:

        Research has shown that in intravenous or supplement form, L-arginine supports the production of one of the good guys—endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO).

      EDNO is a potent substance that dilates blood vessels and allows more blood to course through them. It can even retard the development of heart disease, including hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), the most serious form of heart disease.

Atherosclerosis, of course,

· High LDL "bad"cholesterol and blood pressure,

· Cigarette smoking (makes blood thick and raises fibrinogen and homocysteine levels),

· Elevated levels of homocysteine, LP(a), fibrinogen and insulin.

     Unfortunately, endothelial vasodilator dysfunction may be well established before symptoms like angina appear. Who's vulnerable to endothelial vasodilator dysfunction? All of us, but those with a history of heart disease are at greatest risk. Those folks must preserve vasodilator activity with L-arginine (by the way, there are no drugs that significantly raise EDNO activity).

Where Do You Find L-Arginine?

        The typical American diet contains about 5 grams of L-arginine. That sounds good, but wait—most of it comes from red meat, which is full of saturated fat, petrochemicals, radiation and other harmful substances. Nuts, eggs, tofu, tuna and salmon are far better food sources.

       Even then, you can't get what you need from your diet to prevent or reverse endothelial vasodilator dysfunction. To get the 6 to 9 grams daily, you'd have to eat an enormous amount of food each day—a half pound of tuna or 2.5 pounds of tofu.

       Which means, if you have heart disease, you must consider taking supplements for the full benefits of L-arginine to help stop the disease’s progression and arrest its hold on you.

L-arginine comes in pill or tablet form. Again, aim for 6–9 grams a day....