L-Arginine

=WARNING: = === //"This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent and disease." // ===

Define:
Arginine is an α-amino acid. It was first isolated in 1886. The L -form is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids. At the level of molecular genetics, in the structure of the messenger ribonucleic acid mRNA, CGU, CGC, CGA, CGG, AGA, and AGG, are the triplets of nucleotide bases or codons that code for arginine during protein synthesis. In mammals, arginine is classified as a semi-essential or conditionally essential amino acid, depending on the developmental stage and health status of the individual. Preterm infants are unable to synthesize or create arginine internally, making the amino acid nutritionally essential for them. Arginine was first isolated from a lupin seedling extract in 1886 by the Swiss chemist Ernst Schultze. (Wikipedia)

Arginine becomes nitric oxide (a blood vessel-widening agent called a vasodilator) in the body. Early evidence suggests that arginine may help treat medical conditions that improve with increased vasodilation. (Mayo Clinic)

Food sources:
Beat Root Juice Meat Fish Nuts (StyleCraze)

Dosing:
Typically taken 30 minutes before the working out for optimal effect (MayoClinic) Sports performance: 6 grams oral, 30 minutes before the event (MayoClinic) Heart disease: 3-12.6 g daily (MayoClinic)

Hormonal Response Study
Design: 15 trained athletes half received placebo of corn starch and half received 6 g of L-Arginine. The subjects rested for 10 minutes before their baseline was taken. After the baseline was taken the subjects were administered the supplements 30 minutes before exercising. The first exercise was a 5 kilometer time trial. The first blood sample was taken immediately after finishing the exercise and again 10 minutes after. They repeated the test again the subjects switched from placebo to arginine and vice versa.

Results: No clear effects on GH, Insulin, or IGh (Silva et. al)

Wrestlers Study
Design: 9 elite wrestlers maximal exercise tests that was a placebo controlled crossover study. All subjects underwent a 2 week washout period using now supplements or ergogenic aids. They were administered the placebo or arginine 30 minutes before testing. They proceeded to do a bicycle ergometer test to failure taking lactate measurements before exercise then immediately after exercise 1 minute after exercise and then 3 minutes after that until the subjects levels were down into 50% of the initial recovery measurement. The subject were given the opposite supplement and then repeated the experiment after a resting period.

Results: 5.4% delay in exhaustion (higher lactate threshold/ endurance)

Recommendation
+18 yrs or older Anyone can take small amount (heart health) (Mayoclinic) An athlete can take this 30 minutes before an event to possibly enhance lactate threshold in events of long term resistance events.

Rating
Effectiveness: 2 of 5 Possibly has small ergogenic aid with anaerobic lactate threshold. However does not increase Nitric Oxide in the blood so is not effective in blood flow enhancement.

Price: 5 of 5 The price of a 100 capsule supplement is sold for 6.46. It is a pharmaceutical grade supplement with 500 mg of L-arginine. The price per serving is $0.06 which is very cheap amount supplements

Use: 4 of 5 Take a single capsule before working out with water is all that is needed to use this supplement. The only downfall is it needs to be taken before workouts instead of any time during the day

Availability: 5 of 5 This supplement can be found in just about any store that sells supplements. Arginine is a very easy to get and is cheap so anyone can buy it.

Safety: 4 of 5 There are a couple of possible side effects of supplementing arginine that include: Bloating, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, and Gout. These have a low rate of affecting people but people should monitor side effects and should stop using arginine if they occur.

Total Score: 20 of 25

References: 1.) Yavuz, H., Turnagol, H., & Demiral, A. (2014, September 1). PRE-EXERCISE ARGININE SUPPLEMENTATION INCREASES TIME TO EXHAUSTION IN ELITE MALE WRESTLERS. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.pioproxy.carrollu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=914b9b4f-c2d5-4021-a266-cc7d45450211@sessionmgr198&hid=124

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">2.) Teixeira da Silva, D., Conte-Junior, C., Paschoalin, V., & Alvares, T. (2014, January 1). Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.pioproxy.carrollu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=507acc17-b282-4655-ab12-89546701cbc5@sessionmgr4004&vid=6&hid=4101

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">3.) Arginine. (2013, November 1). Retrieved January 13, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/arginine/background/hrb-20058733

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">4.) Maddox, T. (2012, June 29). Arginine (L-arginine): Heart Benefits and Side Effects. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/heart/arginine-heart-benefits-and-side-effects

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">5.) Bhagat, J. (2014, August 17). Top 10 Arginine Rich Foods. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/top-10-arginine-rich-foods/