Uses of L-Arginine

L-arginine is an amino acid that helps the body build protein. Your body usually makes all the L-arginine it needs. L-arginine is also found in most protein-rich foods, including fish, red meat, poultry, soy, whole grains, beans and dairy products. As a supplement, L-arginine can be used orally and topically.

L-arginine is a chemical building block called "an amino acid." It is obtained from the diet and is necessary for the body to make proteins. L-arginine is found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. It can also be made in a laboratory and used as medicine.

L-arginine is most commonly used for recovery after surgery, a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia), and heart and blood vessel conditions, such as chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure. It is also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses. 

How does it work?

L-arginine is converted in the body into a chemical called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to open wider for improved blood flow. L-arginine also stimulates the release of growth hormone, insulin, and other substances in the body.

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for

Chest pain (angina). Taking L-arginine seems to decrease symptoms and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in people with angina. However, L-arginine does not seem to help widen the blood vessels that are narrowed in angina.

Erectile dysfunction (ED). Taking 5 grams of L-arginine by mouth daily seems to improve sexual function in men with ED. Taking lower doses might not be effective. However, there is some early evidence that taking L-arginine with maritime pine bark extract and other ingredients, might improve the effectiveness of low-dose L-arginine for ED.

High blood pressure. There is evidence that taking L-arginine by mouth can reduce blood pressure in healthy people, people with high blood pressure, and people with slightly high blood pressure with or without diabetes.

A serious intestinal disease in premature infants (necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC). Adding L-arginine to formula seems to prevent inflammation of the digestive tract in premature infants. A total of 6 premature infants need to receive arginine to prevent one instance of digestive tract inflammation.

Narrowing of blood vessels that causes poor blood flow to the limbs (peripheral arterial disease). Research shows that taking L-arginine by mouth or intravenously (by IV) for up to 8 weeks increases blood flow in people with peripheral arterial disease. However, long-term use (up to 6 months) does not improve walking speed or distance in these same people.

A pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia). Most research shows that L-arginine can reduce blood pressure in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. L-arginine also seems to keep pregnant women from developing pre-eclampsia.

Possibly Ineffective for

Long-term kidney disease (chronic kidney disease or CKD). Most early research suggests that taking L-arginine by mouth or intravenously (by IV) does not improve kidney function in most people with kidney failure or kidney disease. However, taking L-arginine by mouth might improve kidney function and reverse anemia in elderly people with kidney disease-associated anemia.

Heart attack. Taking L-arginine does not seem to help prevent a heart attack. It also does not seem to be beneficial for treating a heart attack after it has occurred. In fact, there is concern that L-arginine might be harmful for people after a recent heart attack. Do not take L-arginine if you have had a recent heart attack.

Tuberculosis. Adding arginine to standard treatment for tuberculosis does not seem to help improve symptoms or clear the infection.
Wound healing. Taking L-arginine does not seem to improve wound healing.

Insufficient Evidence for

Altitude sickness. Early research suggests that L-arginine does not reduce altitude sickness.

Small tears in the lining of the anus (anal fissures). There is inconsistent evidence about that effects of L-arginine for treating anal fissures. Applying a topical gel containing L-arginine for at least 12 weeks might heal anal fissures in people who do not respond to traditional care. However, applying L-arginine to the skin does not seem to be better than surgery for anal fissures.

Athletic performance. There is inconsistent evidence about the effects of L-arginine on athletic performance. L-arginine might help people exercise longer, but it does not seem to help make people stronger. Some evidence shows that taking L-arginine increases the time a person can exercise before becoming tired and helps the lungs work more efficiently. However, taking L-arginine does not affect strength during exercise.

Breast cancer. Early research shows that taking L-arginine before chemotherapy does not improve the response rate in people with breast cancer.

Heart failure and fluid build up in the body (congestive heart failure or CHF). Taking L-arginine by mouth, together with conventional treatment, seems to improve kidney function in people with heart failure. But it doesn't seem to improve the ability to exercise. L-arginine should not be used in place of conventional treatment.

Surgery to improve blood flow to the heart (CABG surgery). There is mixed evidence about the effects of L-arginine in protecting the heart during CABG. Some research suggests that giving L-arginine intravenously (by IV) may be helpful in people undergoing CABG. Other research shows that it does not help.

Heart disease. Early research suggests that taking L-arginine intravenously (by IV) before exercising can improve blood vessel function in people with heart disease. However, it does not improve blood flow to the heart.

Critical illness (trauma). Research shows that taking L-arginine by mouth with glutamine, nucleotides, and omega-3 fatty acids reduces the recovery time, the need for help with breathing, and risk of infections in people who are critically ill. However, it does not reduce the risk of death.

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