Overview

Ornithine is a chemical called an amino acid. It is made in the body. It can also be made in a laboratory. People use it as a medicine.

Ornithine is commonly used by mouth for improving athletic performance. It is also used for weight loss, wound healing, and to increase sleep quality. But there is limited scientific research to support these other uses.

Don't confuse ornithine with ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) or L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Amino acid

Primary Functions:

Improving athletic performance

Also Known As:

Chlorhydrate d'Ornithine, L-Ornithine, L-Ornithine HCl, L-Ornithine Hydrochloride

How Does It Work?

It's not known how ornithine might work for medical uses. However, ornithine might help to increase levels of the amino acid, arginine. It might also increase levels of hormones that increase muscle size.

Uses

• Athletic performance.Taking ornithine by mouth might reduce fatigue and improve measures of athletic performance such as speed, strength, and power in some people. Taking ornithine in combination with arginine also seems to improve strength and power in male weightlifters.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

• For athletic performance: 1 gram twice/day for 7 days, then 3 grams with breakfast and lunch prior to exercise or athletic event. A single dose of ornithine hydrochloride 0.1 gram/kg taken prior to exercise or athletic event has also been used. Some people may take 1 gram of ornithine with 1 gram of arginine per day.

Ornithine Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What is ornithine used for?

Ornithine is used for improving athletic performance, reducing glutamine poisoning in the treatment of a brain condition due to liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy), and for wound healing.

What does arginine and ornithine do?

Ornithine, arginine and citrulline are also related to ammonia detoxification in the liver. For instance, ornithine and arginine promote the secretion of growth hormone, which enhances protein synthesis, and therefore these amino acids supplements are expected to aid muscle hypertrophy.

Does L ornithine help you sleep?

L-ornithine helps manage fatigue by stabilizing energy levels and promoting better sleep.

What foods contain ornithine?

Ornithine is present in fish and cheese, but also in corbicula (a freshwater clam), which contains considerably more ornithine than other foods. Ornithine is absorbed via the intestinal tract and incorporated into liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle [1].

How much L ornithine should I take?

How much L-Ornithine should you take? L-Ornithine supplementation (as hydrochloride), or L-Ornithine HCL, may be added to liquid or as part of a blend at 1.5g per serving to be used 1-3 times on a daily basis.

Where is ornithine found?

Ornithine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in meat, fish, dairy and eggs. Ornithine is one of the key reactants in the urea cycle that is responsible for 80% of the nitrogen excretion in the body.

Is ornithine an amino acid?

Ornithine is a chemical called an amino acid. It is made in the body. It can also be made in a laboratory. People use it as a medicine.

Is ornithine an essential amino acid?

A non-essential and nonprotein amino acid, ornithine is critical for the production of the body's proteins, enzymes and muscle tissue. Ornithine plays a central role in the urea cycle and is important for the disposal of excess nitrogen (ammonia).

What is the other name of ornithine cycle?

The urea cycle (also known as the ornithine cycle) is a cycle of biochemical reactions that produces urea (NH₂)₂CO from ammonia (NH₃). This cycle occurs in ureotelic organisms.

What is ornithine transcarbamylase?

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency is an inherited disorder that causes ammonia to accumulate in the blood. Ammonia, which is formed when proteins are broken down in the body, is toxic if the levels become too high. This neonatal-onset form of the disorder usually affects males; it is very rare in females.

What is ornithine HCL?

L-Ornithine HCL. ... L-Ornithine is an important component in the urea cycle. It plays a key role for ammonia metabolism. It is widely used as an intermediate. For use in dietary supplements, food and beverages.

Where is ornithine transcarbamylase located?

Ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC) or OCT (EC 2.1. 3.3) is an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of citrulline formation from l-ornithine and carbamoyl phosphate (Figure 23.9). In mammals it is almost exclusively located in the mitochondria of hepatocytes and is part of the urea cycle.

What is OTC deficiency?

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency is an inherited disorder that causes ammonia to accumulate in the blood. Ammonia, which is formed when proteins are broken down in the body, is toxic if the levels become too high. The nervous system is especially sensitive to the effects of excess ammonia.

What is OTC disease symptoms?

Excess ammonia, which is a neurotoxin, travels to the central nervous system through the blood, resulting in the symptoms and physical findings associated with OTC deficiency. Symptoms include vomiting, refusal to eat, progressive lethargy, and coma.

Clinical Studies

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