Arginine Benefits Cardiovascular Health

CLEVELAND--The amino acid L-arginine, used for its support of muscle metabolism and as a nitric oxide precursor, may have benefits to cardiovascular health, according to two recent studies. In the first, researchers from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation analyzed data from the Third National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey to evaluate the relationship between arginine intake and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (Nutrition< 21, 2:125-30, 2005). Higher levels of CRP have been linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Arginine levels were found inversely related to levels of CRP; subjects in the highest level of arginine intake were 30 percent less like to have CRP above 3.0 mg/L than subjects with a median arginine intake. Researchers suggested individuals could lower the risk for heart disease by consuming more arginine-rich foods such as nuts and fish.

The second study was conducted at the Kurume University School of Medicine, and investigated the hypothesis that strokelike episodes are caused by impaired vasodilation, which could be improved by administration of L-arginine (Neurology, 64:710-2, 2005). Patients suffering a strokelike episode received L-arginine intravenously at the acute phase or orally at the interictal phase. Administration of L-arginine within 30 minutes of a stroke significantly improved symptoms, suggesting it could decrease frequency and severity of strokelike episodes.