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| Arginine |
Last updated: Nov 05, 2009 |
 Arginine can help with the following: | |  | | | | Circulation |  Angina | Oral administration of L-arginine (700mg qid during continuous transdermal nitroglycerin therapy) increased treadmill walking
time until the onset of moderate angina in a small well-controlled trial. [J Am Coll Cardiol 2002;39(7): pp.1199-1203] |
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Hormones |
Low Testosterone Level, Female| | Pilot research suggests that libido enhancement can be achieved by the use of L-arginine containing nutraceutical products also containing DHEA. [The Female Sexual Function Forum, Boston, Mass. 2000] |
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Infections |
Not recommended for:
 STD Herpes II| | Arginine promotes viral replication of herpes. In some people, changing the dietary ratio of lysine to arginine reduces the frequency and intensity of outbreaks. Foods that are lower in lysine and higher in arginine such as chocolate, peanuts and other nuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat products should be reduced or eliminated from the diet. Lists of foods and their lysine:arginine content are available on the Internet.
A comprehensive list of foods and their lysine/arginine content can be found here. |
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Metabolic |
Not recommended for:
 Lipo-Oxidative Type |
Uro-Genital |
 Interstitial Cystitis| | Arginine, three grams per day in divided doses on an ongoing basis, can reduce symptoms. In some people with herpes, the arginine may need to be offset with lysine. The body also uses arginine to make nitric oxide, which helps to relax smooth muscles like those found in blood vessels and the bladder. Based on this known mechanism, arginine has been proposed as a treatment for various conditions that may be caused by limited blood flow. Some researchers theorize that arginine's effects on nitric oxide synthesis might help relax the bladder, making it a useful treatment for IC. |
Erectile Dysfunction (ED, Impotence)| | L-Arginine is the primary source of nitrous oxide (NO) - an odorless gas made of nitrogen and oxygen that relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to organs including the heart and penis. By facilitating blood flow through the erectile tissue of the penis, NO produced from L-arginine can give men erections that are bigger, harder and more frequent.
In a group of 15 men with erectile dysfunction given 2,800mg of arginine per day for two weeks, six were helped, though none improved while taking placebo. Although little is known about how effective arginine will be for men with erectile dysfunction or which subset of these men would be helped, available research looks promising and suggests that at least some men are likely to benefit. [Int J Impot Res 6: pp.33-6, 1994]
The dose can range from 1 to 3gm with meals, or up to 15gm about 45 minutes before sexual activity. Arginine is not recommended if you have diabetes, arthritis, cancer, shingles, herpes I (fever blisters, cold sores) or herpes II. |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | May have adverse consequences | | | Reasonably likely to cause problems |
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