Arginine is found in all protein foods and is very abundant in seeds and nuts. It is considered a semi-essential amino acid during early development, infection/inflammation, or renal and/or intestinal impairment.
It has many functions in the body including:
- ammonia disposal in the urea cycle
- immune function
- stimulation of insulin release
- muscle metabolism (creatine/creatinine precursor)
- nitric oxide (NO) formation
- glutamic acid and proline formation
- glucose/glycogen conversion
- stimulation of the release of growth hormone, vasopressin, and prolactin
- wound healing Because arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide synthesis, it is often used therapeutically in cardiovascular disease for its vasodilatory effects.
References:
- Morris SM, Jr. Arginine Metabolism Revisited. J Nutr. 2016;146(12):2579s-2586s.
- Patel JJ, Miller KR, Rosenthal C, Rosenthal MD. When Is It Appropriate to Use Arginine in Critical Illness? Nutr Clin Pract. 2016;31(4):438-444.
- Linden KC, Wadley GD, Garnham AP, McConell GK. Effect of l-arginine infusion on glucose disposal during exercise in humans. Med Sci Sports Exercise. 2011;43(9):1626-1634.
- Bronte V, Zanovello P. Regulation of immune responses by L-arginine metabolism. Nat Rev Immunol. 2005;5(8):641-654.
- Bologna K, Cesana-Nigro N, Refardt J, et al. Effect of Arginine on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Individuals With and Without Vasopressin Deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020;105(7).
- Abe K, Matsuura N, Fujita H, et al. Prolactin response to arginine in children with hyperthyroidism and primary hypothyroidism. Eur J Ped. 1982;139(2):118-120.
- Boger RH. The pharmacodynamics of L-arginine. Alt Ther Health Med. 2014;20(3):48-54.
- Rouge C, Des Robert C, Robins A, et al. Manipulation of citrulline availability in humans. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2007;293(5):G1061-1067.
- Thibault R, Flet L, Vavasseur F, et al. Oral citrulline does not affect whole body protein metabolism in healthy human volunteers: results of a prospective, randomized, doubleblind, cross-over study. Clin Nutr. 2011;30(6):807-811.
- Vural H, Sirin B, Yilmaz N, Eren I, Delibas N. The role of arginine-nitric oxide pathway in patients with Alzheimer disease. Biol Trace Element Res. 2009;129(1-3):58-64.
- Sarban S, Isikan UE, Kocabey Y, Kocyigit A. Relationship between synovial fluid and plasma manganese, arginase, and nitric oxide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Biol Trace Element Res. 2007;115(2):97-106.
- Kang-Yoon SA, Kirksey A. Relation of short-term pyridoxineHCl supplementation to plasma vitamin B-6 vitamers and amino acid concentrations in young women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992;55(4):865-872.
- van Waardenburg DA, de Betue CT, Luiking YC, Engel M, Deutz NE. Plasma arginine and citrulline concentrations in critically ill children: strong relation with inflammation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86(5):1438-1444.
- Romero MJ, Platt DH, Tawfik HE, et al. Diabetes-induced coronary vascular dysfunction involves increased arginase activity. Circ Res. 2008;102(1):95-102.
- Morris SM, Jr. Arginases and arginine deficiency syndromes. Current Op Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2012;15(1):64-70.
Arginine
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