Many people go to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and they may often hear the doctor say, "If there is pain, there will be no pain, but if there is pain, there will be no pain."

This may be a potential problem caused by poor blood circulation and circulation.

Today’s protagonist, arginine, is an amino acid involved in regulating vascular function and blood flow . Supplementation can lower blood pressure and improve erectile dysfunction.

Today’s article will take you through the potential benefits and various functions of this amino acid .

What is L-arginine?
→Definition of L-arginine

L-arginine is an amino acid, which is the building block of protein and is divided into essential and non-essential categories.

Non-essential amino acids can be produced in the body, but essential amino acids must be provided through dietary intake.

L-arginine is considered semi-essential and may become essential in certain situations and conditions, such as pregnancy, infancy, critical illness, and trauma.

Arginine is an essential nutrient for the production of nitric oxide , a signaling molecule required for various body processes and functions, including blood vessel patency, blood flow regulation, mitochondrial function and cell communication .

→Arginine is very important for the immune system

It is also a precursor to other amino acids, including glutamate, proline, and creatine , which are essential for immune system health and function.

Arginine is required for the development of T cells , white blood cells that play a central role in immune responses.

Since L-arginine plays so many critical roles in the body, a deficiency of this amino acid can disrupt cell and organ function, leading to serious adverse health consequences

→Main source of arginine

L-arginine is produced in several ways.

It can be synthesized from the amino acid citrulline through the breakdown of body proteins , or it can be obtained through dietary protein intake .

It is concentrated in certain protein-rich foods , including meat, poultry, dairy products, nuts, soy products and fish.

Additionally, L-arginine can also be obtained through supplements.

L-arginine supplements are widely available and can be found in powder, liquid, capsule, and tablet forms at pharmacies, supplement stores, and online.

What are the benefits of arginine?
L-arginine supplements are widely used, including by athletes and people with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure.

It is also used in clinical settings to treat critically ill patients or those with trauma .

L-arginine, as a supplement, offers a variety of potential benefits :

→Arginine enhances exercise performance

L - arginine supplements can enhance athletic performance by increasing nitric oxide in the body , improving blood flow and oxygenation to muscles .

A 2017 randomized study of 56 male soccer players found that taking 2 grams of L-arginine daily for 45 days significantly improved athletic performance compared with a placebo group.

Another small study of nine men also found that those who drank a drink containing 6 grams of L-arginine one hour before strenuous exercise had significantly lower nitric oxide levels in their blood compared with the placebo group. It can increase exercise time and improve tolerance .

→Arginine regulates blood pressure

L-arginine supplements can be tried by patients with high blood pressure, because one of the causes of high blood pressure is blood vessel obstruction, and arginine can help open blood vessels.

Taking L-arginine supplements may help lower systolic (highest) and diastolic (lowest) blood pressure readings.

L-arginine is necessary for the production of nitric oxide, which helps cells in blood vessels relax and regulate blood pressure.

A 2016 review of seven studies found that oral and intravenous (IV) L-arginine supplementation significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults with hypertension , by as much as 5.4 mm/Hg and 3.1 mm/Hg, respectively. Hg .

→Arginine assists in the management of major diseases

When your body is damaged by conditions such as infection or trauma , arginine becomes essential and the body's need for arginine increases significantly.

In these specific situations, such as severe infections, infantile necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, burns, chronic illness and wounds, as well as before and after surgery, during critical illness, and in trauma patients, your body can no longer meet its needs and must externally sources to increase arginine content.

→Arginine assists blood sugar regulation

L-arginine may improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity .

L-arginine is required for the production of nitric oxide, which plays an important role in cell function and response to insulin .

Therefore, increasing the availability of nitric oxide may help enhance the function of insulin-producing cells and help the body use blood sugar more efficiently .

One study of 144 people with impaired blood sugar regulation found that treatment with 6.4 grams of L-arginine daily for 18 months reduced the odds of developing diabetes over 90 months compared with the placebo group .

Long-term use of L-arginine supplements can prevent diabetes in high-risk groups.

→Arginine improves male erectile dysfunction

L-arginine can help synthesize nitric oxide, which is important for male erectile function .

Because it helps blood vessels relax, it can promote arterial circulation . Healthy blood flow to the arteries of the penis is a prerequisite for normal erectile function.

A 2019 review of 10 studies found that taking 1.5-5 grams of arginine supplements daily significantly improved erectile dysfunction compared with placebo or no treatment .

→Arginine helps open blood vessels and improve blood flow

Many elderly people suffer from blocked blood vessels and develop some common problems.

Increasing nitric oxide levels can also help blood flow and help with clogged blood vessels, and some studies have found that L-arginine supplements can improve vascular function and blood flow in certain people .

→Arginine treats and prevents preeclampsia

Research has found that L-arginine treatment during pregnancy may help prevent and treat preeclampsia , a dangerous disease characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine .

L-arginine supplementation may improve pregnancy outcomes and fetal and maternal health in women in low-resource settings.

During pregnancy, the body's need for L-arginine increases due to fetal development and placental growth .

Requirements may not be met directly through diet, especially in women who live in resource-poor settings and are unable to obtain adequate protein.

If you are a pregnant mother and would like to take L-arginine supplements, it is recommended that you consult your healthcare practitioner to determine whether a supplement is necessary to meet your individual needs during breastfeeding .

Arginine side effects and precautions
→Arginine is highly safe and has few side effects

As an amino acid in food, it is very safe and will not put much pressure on the body's organs.

Long-term daily supplementation is safe and generally well tolerated , even over 1 year or more .

A 90-day study of 142 adults found that daily doses up to 30 grams were well tolerated and no adverse effects were noted.

This suggests that even very high doses of L-arginine are generally safe, at least in the short term .

However, long-term use of large doses of 9 grams or more per day may cause some potential side effects, including bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.

→Applicable and cautious users of arginine

For young people, supplementation is generally not needed because sufficient arginine is obtained from food.

Arginine is suitable for older people, the elderly, people with reduced function, or people with insufficient protein intake, poor digestion, blood vessel obstruction, high blood pressure, or vegetarians .

In addition, some sports enthusiasts also use it in order to improve their sports performance. Their demand for amino acids is greater.

Despite the strong safety profile, certain groups of people should avoid arginine supplements.

L-arginine supplements should be used with caution in patients with asthma, cirrhosis, kidney disease, hypotension, and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency (a genetic disorder that affects arginine metabolism).

L-arginine is not recommended for children unless medically necessary and recommended by a healthcare practitioner .

Giving your child too high a dose of L-arginine may cause serious side effects.

→Dosage and administration method

The dosage of L-arginine varies greatly depending on who it is being treated with.

For blood pressure management, dose 6-30 grams daily for 2-24 weeks .

For patients with erectile dysfunction , supplementing with 1.5-5 grams of L-arginine per day may significantly improve the disorder.

For the treatment of preeclampsia , the dose is usually 3-4 grams per day for up to 12 weeks , or until delivery, and may also be given intravenously in a clinical setting to pregnant women with hypertension.

It is recommended for personal supplementation without clinician supervision to keep the daily dose of L-arginine below 9 grams to avoid potential gastrointestinal side effects.

L-arginine is a component in food that can help synthesize nitric oxide and open blood vessels, which is very important for male function.

Especially older people, because their protein digestion function is reduced, they can try arginine.

Of course, many people take L-arginine supplements for other reasons, including reducing the risk of the common cold, losing weight and maintaining body shape, and improving athletic performance.

For ordinary young people, if your protein intake is sufficient, you don’t need to supplement.

For those with chronic problems or sports enthusiasts, you can try supplementing arginine to see the body's feedback.

This is a food ingredient that does not put too much stress on the body and is generally safe for normal consumption.