What is Arginine?
Arginine is a non-essential, but very important, amino acid. The body is normally able to synthesize the amino acid if necessary due to an insufficient diet. However, a diet rich in meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and/or nuts should provide enough arginine for normal function.

Arginine helps keep the heart healthy, helps heal wounds, and aids in the production of insulin and glucagon. If necessary, the body can break down arginine for use as bodily energy or convert it into glycogen. In high doses, arginine may stimulate the secretion of growth hormone and prolactin. The body uses arginine, in addition to glycine and methionine, to produce creatine.

Deficiencies of arginine may occur in children with certain genetic disorders, or in cases of trauma (including surgery), sepsis, or serious burns. These individuals may receive arginine as part of medically prescribed therapy during recovery.

Health Benefits
Most of the health benefits arginine provides are due to its stimulation of increased nitric oxide (NO) production, which dilates bloods vessels and improves blood flow.

Arginine may help prevent or reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, and may decrease the occurrence of artherosclerosis (the formation of hard plaque from fatty deposits in the arteries). Arginine is also thought to help lower cholesterol levels, and may help improve symptoms of angina.

Arginine may also help prevent or reduce the spread of certain cancers, and is thought to have antioxidant properties.

Research shows that arginine may help the body repair wounds, may help individuals with some kidney disorders, may help decrease the severity or incidence of migraine headaches, and may help improve symptoms of male infertility caused by erectile dysfunction.

More conclusive research is necessary as to what degree arginine helps improve exercise performance and increase of lean muscle mass.

Usage Indications
Consult your physician about arginine supplements if you suspect you are deficient, or suffer from a serious condition. Use as directed.

Side effects: May occur with daily intake of 15 grams or more, and include nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Sensitive individuals may experience side effects at lower doses.

Indications: Do not use arginine supplements if you suffer from the rare genetic disorder argininemia. Consult your physician before using arginine if you have any medical conditions, or are taking any of the following medications: nitroglycerin, Viagra, cyclosporine, ibuprofen, organic nitrates, or the herbal supplement yohimbe. Arginine may cause herpes or cold sore outbreaks in prone individuals. Individuals using arginine supplements on a long term basis should consider taking an amino acid complex to ensure proper amino acid balance.

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