This article provides general nutrition information only and is not medical advice.

Overview

L-arginine is a chemical building block called "an amino acid." It is obtained from the diet and is necessary for the body to make proteins. L-arginine is found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. It can also be made in a laboratory and used as medicine.

L-arginine is most commonly used for recovery after surgery, a pregnancy complication marked by high cardiovascular health and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia), and heart and blood vessel conditions, such as chest pain (angina) and high cardiovascular health. It is also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Chemical

Primary Functions:

Recovery after surgery

Also Known As:

 Arg, Arginine, Arginine Ethyl Ester

How Does It Work?

L-arginine is converted in the body into a chemical called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to open wider for improved blood flow. L-arginine also stimulates the release of growth hormone, insulin, and other substances in the body.

Uses

• Chest pain (angina). Taking L-arginine seems to decrease concerns and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in people with angina. However, L-arginine does not seem to help widen the blood vessels that are narrowed in angina.
• Male vitality (ED). Taking 5 grams of L-arginine by mouth daily seems to improve sexual function in men with ED. Taking lower doses might not be effective. However, there is some early evidence that taking L-arginine with maritime pine bark extract and other ingredients, might improve the effectiveness of low-dose L-arginine for ED.
• High cardiovascular health. There is evidence that taking L-arginine by mouth can reduce cardiovascular health in healthy people, people with high cardiovascular health, and people with slightly high cardiovascular health with or without diabetes.
• A serious intestinal condition in premature infants (necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC). Adding L-arginine to formula seems to prevent physical strain of the digestive tract in premature infants. A total of 6 premature infants need to receive arginine to prevent one instance of digestive tract physical strain.
• Narrowing of blood vessels that causes poor blood flow to the limbs (peripheral arterial condition). Research shows that taking L-arginine by mouth or intravenously (by IV) for up to 8 weeks increases blood flow in people with peripheral arterial condition. However, long-term use (up to 6 months) does not improve walking speed or distance in these same people.
• A pregnancy complication marked by high cardiovascular health and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia). Most research shows that L-arginine can reduce cardiovascular health in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. L-arginine also seems to keep pregnant women from developing pre-eclampsia.
• High cardiovascular health during pregnancy. Taking L-arginine intravenously (by IV) can reduce cardiovascular health in pregnant women who develop high cardiovascular health. It's unclear if taking L-arginine by mouth lowers cardiovascular health during pregnancy, but it might decrease the need to take cardiovascular health lowering drugs.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

• For chest pain (angina): 2-6 grams three times per day for up to one month.
• For male vitality (ED): 5 grams per day. Taking lower doses might not be effective.
• For high cardiovascular health: 4-24 grams per day for 2-24 weeks.
• For narrowing of blood vessels that causes poor blood flow to the limbs (peripheral arterial condition): 6-24 grams for up to 8 weeks.
• For a pregnancy complication marked by high cardiovascular health and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia): 3 grams per day for up to 3 weeks for the nutritional support of pre-eclampsia, and 3 grams per day starting at 20 weeks gestation for the prevention of pre-eclampsia. Two bars of a medical food (Heart Bars) with arginine 6.6 grams and antioxidant vitamins per day starting at 14-32 weeks gestation and continuing until delivery for the prevention of pre-eclampsia.
• For high cardiovascular health during pregnancy: 4 grams per day for 10-12 weeks.

BY IV:

• For narrowing of blood vessels that causes poor blood flow to the limbs (peripheral arterial condition): 16 grams for up to 8 weeks.
• For a pregnancy complication marked by high cardiovascular health and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia): 20 grams per day for up to 5 days or one 30 gram dose.
• For high cardiovascular health during pregnancy: 20 grams per day for up to 5 days.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

• For a serious intestinal condition in premature infants (necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC): 261 mg/kg added to oral feedings daily for the first 28 days of life.

L – Arginine Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What is L Arginine used for?

L-arginine is a nonessential amino acid that may play an important role in the nutritional support of heart condition due to its block arterial plaque buildup, blood clots, platelet clumping, and to increase blood flow through the coronary artery.

What does l arginine do sexually?

L-arginine is the amino acid used to make nitric oxide, a molecule that facilitates the flow of blood to the penis during an erection, and is the most common amino acid found in sexual supplements. It's unclear, however, whether a pill form of L-arginine helps with sexual stimulation.

How much l arginine should I take daily?

There is no standard dose of arginine. Studies have used different amounts for different conditions. One common dosage is 2 to 3 grams three times a day, although lower and higher doses have also been studied.

Is L Arginine safe to take daily?

There is no recommended daily amount established for arginine, because the human body normally makes enough. If taken as a supplement, higher doses of arginine are often needed, and up to 1200 mg per day have been shown to be helpful. Before taking it, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Does arginine cause weight gain?

Healthy weight loss: L-arginine reduces fat mass and increases muscle mass. L-arginine is known to increase the activity of insulin, which manipulates hormones that metabolize fats. It also increases strength for exercises, thus making it effective in a weight loss program.

Does L Arginine make you last longer in bed?

Boost L-arginine Consumption

L-arginine is an essential amino acid that can be converted to nitric oxide, which can help relax the blood vessels of the penis and increase blood flow and erection quality. Soy and vegetables are good sources of L-arginine.

How long does it take for l arginine to work?

Taking L-arginine by mouth seems to reduce pain and some concerns of bladder physical strain, although improvements may take 3 months to occur.

Is 5000 mg of L Arginine too much?

There is no recommended daily amount established for arginine, because the human body normally makes enough. If taken as a supplement, higher doses of arginine are often needed, and up to 1200 mg per day have been shown to be helpful. Before taking it, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Why is arginine bad?

In clinical trials, arginine has been used safely with minor side effects for up to three months. Possible side effects include abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea, and gout. It may also cause a worsening of breathing in people with asthma. Arginine may interact with certain medications that lower cardiovascular health.

Does L Arginine increase testosterone?

L-arginine also stimulates the release of growth hormone, insulin, and other substances in the body. Testosterone is something the human body naturally understands, using it to push energy and give your body the burst of strength needed when lifting heavy weights.

What is L Arginine 1000 mg used for?

L-arginine has two effects: it turns into nitric oxide and helps the body build protein. These effects give L-arginine an array of potential benefits that range from heart health and chest pain to helping to build muscles, repair wounds, and improve male fertility.

Is L Arginine worth taking?

Generally safe. L-arginine is considered to be generally safe and might be effective at lowering cardiovascular health, reducing the concerns of angina and treating male vitality due to a physical cause. However, if you take a cardiovascular health drug, talk to your doctor before using L-arginine.

Is L Arginine and Arginine the same thing?

Arginine, or L-arginine, is an amino acid that is made in the body.

Does L Arginine affect kidneys?

In the setting of ischemic acute renal failure, the administration of L-arginine had a beneficial effect on GFR and RPF, decreased O2- production, diminished up-regulation of soluble guanylate cyclase, and prevented up-regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS).

Does arginine cause hair loss?

Similarly, hair tonics containing the amino acid L-Arginine aren't proven to help: in fact L-Arginine can raise testosterone levels which may actually worsen your hair loss. Wigs and hairpieces obviously won't prevent hair loss but do offer an effective substitute.

Is Too Much L Arginine bad for you?

As with any supplement, a person should use it with caution. Although L-arginine is considered safe in moderate doses, too much L-arginine can have severe side effects, including death. It is important to understand how the supplement may interact with the body and with additional medications before taking it.

What are the side effects of L Arginine?

Oral use of L-arginine might cause:

• Abdominal pain.
• Allergic response.
• Airway physical strain or worsening of asthma concerns.

Is L Arginine a fat burner?

L-Arginine Reduces Fat and Waist Circumference. Researchers, writing in the November 2006 American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism published a study demonstrating the weight-loss benefits of high doses of the amino acid L-Arginine.

Is L Arginine good for belly fat?

L-arginine may help blast belly fat

A pilot study measured the effects of L-arginine taken daily for 12 weeks on healthy persons. Evidences show that L-arginine has weight loss promoting powers and found useful in treating central, or visceral obesity. In this case, L-arginine then may help blast belly fast.

Can you take arginine and caffeine together?

“Combinations of caffeine with L-arginine or with taurine can enhance the effect of caffeine, but the mechanisms remain elusive.”  “The decrease in adipose tissue weight was greater with a mixture of arginine and caffeine , and much greater with TACC than with arginine or caffeine alone.”

What foods are high in L Arginine?

Boost your arginine intake with these 10 foods:

• You'll find the highest amount of argininein turkey breast.
• Pork loin. Pork loin, another high-protein food, comes in a close second with an argininecontent of 14 grams per rib.
• Pumpkin seeds.

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