L-arginine, or arginine, is one of the 22 amino acids. Amino acids are small molecules that are the building blocks of proteins.
Arginine is a precursor to several important metabolites, including nitric oxide.
In the body, L-arginine is converted into a chemical known as nitric oxide. Nitric oxide opens the blood vessels, which improves blood flow.
L-arginine also increases the production of growth hormone, insulin, and other hormones in the body.
It can be synthesised in a laboratory and used in supplements.
In addition, L-arginine can improve erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction.
Thus, nitric oxide is crucial for proper erection and blood flu (1, 2).
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What Is L-Arginine Used For?
Some studies assert that L-arginine is used to treat chest pain, heart conditions, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious disease that affects premature infants.
It’s also used by some people to boost their immune systems, improve energy and performance, reduce recovery time after surgery, and promote weight loss.
However, there’s no concrete scientific evidence to back up these claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
Side Effects
When taking L-arginine as a supplement, you should be aware of its potential side effects. These include:
- increased risk of bleeding
- unhealthy imbalance of potassium
- change in blood sugar levels
- decreased blood pressure
- bloating and abdominal pain
- allergies or worsening of asthma
Take L-arginine with caution if you are also taking prescription ED medications such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis).
L-arginine may cause your blood pressure to drop, so if you have low blood pressure or take blood pressure medications, avoid it or consult a doctor before trying it.
If you experience ED symptoms, consult your doctor. Most of the time, ED results from an underlying medical condition.
Stress and interpersonal problems are also concerns for many males.
Dosing
The daily dosage of arginine is dependent on the individual and can range from 5 to 24 grams taken orally per day.
People who are taking medications prescribed by their doctor will continue to take those medications and you should definitely check with your doctor before using arginine supplements.
Also, speak with a healthcare provider to determine what sort of product or dose is best for a particular problem.
Can I get L-arginine naturally?
One advantage of getting L-arginine through your diet is that you can prevent the negative effects of taking too much.
Animal proteins, such as red meat (beef), chicken, turkey breast, and dairy products, are the primary sources of L-arginine.
People who don’t eat meat can include plant-based arginine sources such as lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and soybeans.
People who don’t get enough L-arginine may want to include more protein-rich foods in their diet.
Prior to taking supplements, a dietitian or doctor may give food plan recommendations to increase the natural consumption of L-arginine.
Can pregnant women take arginine?
Studies show that arginine-derived nitric oxide can support a particular form of hypertension called pre-eclampsia and can prevent premature labor and birth.
However, pregnant women should speak to their doctor before adding any supplements to their diet (9).
Conclusion
Arginine has a very excellent safety profile and seems to have nearly no toxic effects.
From that point of view, things get much less clear.
Early studies suggested it might boost growth hormone.
In reality, they discovered these effects using very high doses.
There was an intravenous and temporary spike in GH.
However, it does not have any beneficial effects on healthy people.