L-Arginine
By Kurt Grange, PhD, ND |
Due to its powerful healing properties, the amino acid L-arginine is considered to be the most potent minor nutraceutical ever discovered. It is actually referred to by scientists as the “Miracle Molecule.” It was part of a study that won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Since then, the therapeutic agent in L-arginine has been validated by thousands of clinical studies.
Medical researchers, like those at Columbia University, are referring to L-arginine as the “magic bullet” for the cardiovascular system and heart disease, as well as for a variety of other chronic conditions. Its usage is now taught to medical students at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
L-arginine is used as fuel for the cells lining the blood vessels as well as the body’s chief source for creating nitric oxide. The Nobel Prize landmark discovery of the functions of nitric oxide concluded that without nitric oxide, human life would be impossible. Nitric oxide protects the heart and blood vessels from free radical damage and plaque formation. Nitric oxide relaxes arteries which helps control blood pressure and increases blood flow to the organs, especially the brain, liver, kidneys, heat, and sex organs.
Research has also investigated arginine’s benefit to the immune system. This amino acid appears to increase the ability of natural killer cells to destroy dangerous mutating cells (think cancer) in the body. As a side effect, nitric oxide is toxic to bad bacteria and parasites.
Research further shows L-arginine can also help improve reproductive, pulmonary, renal, digestive and liver functions. L-arginine acts as an antioxidant that can inhibit the oxidation of fats and support healthy lipid levels in the blood stream. It may also scavenge superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide, two dangerous free radicals.
What about the weekend sports buffs or the competitive athlete? L-arginine contributes to the production of creatine in the body.
Creatine is an energy source for our muscles that enhances strength and endurance. It also relaxes blood vessels thereby increasing blood flow to the muscles. The added blood flow increases oxygen levels in the muscles and brain which will increase aerobic respiration muscle contraction (aerobic respiration creates the metabolic by-products of carbon dioxide and water), forestalling the body’s change to anaerobic respiration which creates the metabolic by-product lactic acid. The end result of taking an L-arginine supplement is increased performance maintained over a longer period of output with much less recovery time.
After heavy exercise or an injury, the body may not produce enough L-arginine to keep up with demands. Supplementation can support injury repair while staving off the normal after-injury muscle wasting. It is particularly effective in preventing the breaking down and subsequent loss of protein in injured muscles. L-arginine is ideal for athletes who suffer an injury, but don’t want to lose muscle or strength while they recuperate (ie. muscle atrophy while your leg is in a cast).
The RDA for L-arginine is 1,000 mg; however, most practitioners believe that unless you are a diehard couch potato, you need at least 3,000 mg per day.
Obesity, HGH, & L-Arginine
Obesity is characterized by (1) increased levels of insulin and (2) low human growth hormone (HGH) release.
Insulin increases fat and carbohydrate storage while HGH stimulates lypolisis (fat-burning). Studies show that when there is a higher ratio of HGH to insulin, humans tend to be leaner. The combination of high insulin and low HGH increases the possibility of obesity. L-arginine is the main agent responsible for restoration and maintenance of HGH in humans.
The benefits and functions attributed to oral ingestion of L-arginine include:
• Being a precursor for the synthesis of Nitric Oxide.
• Stimulation of the release of the most important anti-aging hormone in the body, HGH growth hormone.
• Improving immune function.
• Reducing healing time of injuries (particularly bone and connective tissue).
• Reducing the risk of heart disease.
• Increasing lean muscle mass
• Reducing body fat.
• Helping to improve insulin sensitivity.
• Helping to decrease blood pressure.
• Improving sperm production and motility.
And, because of L-arginine’s ability to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow, it is considered to be a natural alternative to Viagra. Now there’s a side effect that could be good for a change.
L-arginine cautions:
L-arginine undermines the effect of lysine in suppression of viral infection. Therefore, for a person infected with viruses (e.g, herpes), it is recommended to reduce L-arginine supplement dosage or not to eat foods high in L-arginine. Pregnant and lactating women are advised to be cautious with their arginine intake and dosage.
Dietary sources of L-arginine:
Arginine is a nonessential amino acid, meaning it can be manufactured by the human body, and does not need to be obtained directly through the diet. The biosynthetic pathway however does not produce sufficient arginine, and some must still be consumed through diet. Arginine is found in a wide variety of foods, including:
* Animal sources: dairy products (e.g. cottage cheese, ricotta, milk, yogurt, whey protein drinks), beef, pork (e.g. bacon, ham), poultry (e.g. chicken and turkey light meat), wild game (e.g, pheasant, quail), seafood (e.g. halibut, lobster, salmon, shrimp, snails, tuna in water)
* Vegetarian sources: wheat germ and flour, buckwheat, granola, oatmeal, nuts (coconut, pecans, cashews, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts, pine nuts, peanuts), seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), chick peas, cooked soybeans, chocolate
* Other: some energy drinks
References:
1. Maureen Kennedy Salaman, All your Health Questions Answered Naturally. Bay to Bay Distribution, Inc. 1998
2. James F. Balch, MD, Mark Stengler, ND, Prescription for Natural Cures. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004
3. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/l-arginine/NS_patient-arginine
4.www.dietaryfiberfood.com/l-arginine.php
For more info, call Dr. Kurt Grange at 775-825-7727.
