madman
Super Moderator
Abstract:
Arginine (L-arginine), is an amino acid involved in a number of biological processes, including the biosynthesis of proteins, host immune response, urea cycle, and nitric oxide production. In this systematic review, we focus on the functional role of arginine in the regulation of endothelial function and vascular tone. Both clinical and preclinical studies are examined, analyzing the effects of arginine supplementation in hypertension, ischemic heart disease, aging, peripheral artery disease, and diabetes mellitus.
7. Conclusions and Perspective:
Arginine as a Therapeutic Tool Overall, data available in the literature support and encourage the use of arginine supplementation in cardiovascular disorders, especially in preventing the evolution of hypertension and atherosclerosis. One limitation of using arginine supplementation remains the selection of the optimal target population. In this sense, we believe that ADMA levels could be very useful in selecting the target population, and patients with increased ADMA/arginine ratios are probably the most suitable population, in which arginine supplementation can actually be effective. Another limitation of arginine use concerns its dose. Indeed, available studies suggest a number of different doses, sometimes effective, sometimes not. For instance, the acute oral administration of arginine (9 g/day) has been shown to be not successful in inducing an effective NO production [216]. Instead, chronic administration of oral arginine (e.g., vials containing arginine salts-free 1.66 g/20 mL), has been shown to favor the utilization of arginine for NO synthesis [300], and we have data showing that oral arginine (3 g/day of Bioarginina®, Farmaceutici Damor, 2 vials/day) improves endothelial function in hypertensive patients via the regulation of non-coding RNAs (Gambardella et al., personal communication). Large, prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to better define the target population for arginine supplementation, alongside with correct dosage definitions. To date, a dose of ~3 g/day of arginine (e.g., Bioarginina®, 2 vials/day) seems to be effective in favoring the utilization of arginine for NO synthesis, without toxic effects.
Arginine (L-arginine), is an amino acid involved in a number of biological processes, including the biosynthesis of proteins, host immune response, urea cycle, and nitric oxide production. In this systematic review, we focus on the functional role of arginine in the regulation of endothelial function and vascular tone. Both clinical and preclinical studies are examined, analyzing the effects of arginine supplementation in hypertension, ischemic heart disease, aging, peripheral artery disease, and diabetes mellitus.
7. Conclusions and Perspective:
Arginine as a Therapeutic Tool Overall, data available in the literature support and encourage the use of arginine supplementation in cardiovascular disorders, especially in preventing the evolution of hypertension and atherosclerosis. One limitation of using arginine supplementation remains the selection of the optimal target population. In this sense, we believe that ADMA levels could be very useful in selecting the target population, and patients with increased ADMA/arginine ratios are probably the most suitable population, in which arginine supplementation can actually be effective. Another limitation of arginine use concerns its dose. Indeed, available studies suggest a number of different doses, sometimes effective, sometimes not. For instance, the acute oral administration of arginine (9 g/day) has been shown to be not successful in inducing an effective NO production [216]. Instead, chronic administration of oral arginine (e.g., vials containing arginine salts-free 1.66 g/20 mL), has been shown to favor the utilization of arginine for NO synthesis [300], and we have data showing that oral arginine (3 g/day of Bioarginina®, Farmaceutici Damor, 2 vials/day) improves endothelial function in hypertensive patients via the regulation of non-coding RNAs (Gambardella et al., personal communication). Large, prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to better define the target population for arginine supplementation, alongside with correct dosage definitions. To date, a dose of ~3 g/day of arginine (e.g., Bioarginina®, 2 vials/day) seems to be effective in favoring the utilization of arginine for NO synthesis, without toxic effects.
