by Suzanne Revak |
It’s the disorder no one wants to talk about, yet according to a 1999 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 43% of women and 31% of men suffer from sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is broadly defined as the inability to fully enjoy sexual intercourse. Women generally experience it as loss of libido (sexual drive) and/or the inability or difficulty in achieving an orgasm. Men experience it as impotence, known technically as erectile dysfunction.
Based on dozens of studies, L-Arginine, an essential amino acid and one of the building blocks of proteins in the body, has become known as a safe and effective pro-sexual nutrient for men and women. L-Arginine is a precursor of nitric oxide (NO) in the human body. In the 1990s, scientists discovered that not only is NO an essential compound that helps blood circulation, but it is important to normal sexual function in both men and women.
Without L-Arginine there would be no NO, and without NO men would not be able to have erections.
How does L-Arginine work? Insufficient blood flow is a major cause of incomplete erection in men. L-Arginine has been shown to improve blood flow to the genital area by dilating blood vessels and helping the penis to enlarge to its full capacity, thus increasing the size, hardness and frequency of erections.
Nutritional expert, Dr. Jonathan Wright, explains the mechanism in men: “Molecules of NO are generated when an enzyme called NO synthase (NOS which is abundant in the nerve and muscle cells in and around the penis, strips away a nitrogen atom (N) from a passing molecule of the amino acid L-Arginine) and combines it with an atom of oxygen (O).”
In other words, in order to produce nitric oxide in the body, a nitrogen atom must combine with an oxygen molecule in the blood. The enzyme called nitric oxide synthase controls this reaction. L-Arginine has a similar effect in women. Higher blood flow makes clitoral and vaginal tissues more sensitive and responsive to sexual stimulation, and helps increase the possibility of reaching orgasm. Although there have not been nearly as many
studies done on L-Arginine supplementation in women as in men, one study found that postmenopausal women who took a supplement including L-Arginine experienced heightened sexual response.
Another study, involving 77 women of all ages, found that after four weeks 73.5% of the women who took a supplement including L-Arginine experienced greater sexual satisfaction, including heightened desire and clitoral sensation, frequency of intercourse and orgasm and less vaginal dryness. Stronger libido…greater endurance! Both men and women report that L-Arginine seems to increase their libido or desire for sex, and some also report that L-Arginine gives them greater endurance. Reports also suggest that L-Arginine supplements can improve fertility in men who have low sperm counts or poor sperm motility (activity).
References:
www.alternativehealth.co.n2/aminoacids/larginine.htm
