Arginine

Overview

Arginine is one of the 11 Non-Essential amino acids but is included it the 8 conditional amino acids.

Topic Contents

Arginine - Health Benefits

Arginine - Dietary Sources

Arginine may improve the function of these substances

Amines

 Arginine increases the body''s production of Polyamines.  ^[1]

Amino Acids

 Arginine is a precursor for the endogenous production of Agmatine.  ^[2]

 Some endogenous Creatine is manufactured by the Liver, Kidneys and Pancreas from Arginine (together with Glycine and Methionine).  ^[3]

 Arginine is involved in the formation of endogenous Glutamic Acid.

 Arginine is a precursor for the endogenous production of Ornithine:  ^[4]

 Approximately 50% of the daily Arginine intake (from the diet and supplements) is converted to Ornithine.

 Arginine facilitates the endogenous production of Proline.  ^[5]

Carbohydrates

 Arginine is metabolized within the Liver to form endogenous Glucose - this conversion is catalyzed by Glucagon.  ^[6]

Enzymes

 Arginine stimulates the production of Plasmin.  ^[7]

 Arginine stimulates the activity of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) activity.  ^[8]

Growth Factors

 Arginine increases the synthesis of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (in elderly persons):  ^[9]

 A clinical study involving elderly people using 30 grams of the Arginine Aspartate form of Arginine per day for 14 days resulted in a significant increase in serum IGF-1 levels in persons aged between 67 and 82.

 Arginine applied topically increases the level of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Skin.  ^[10]

Hormones

 Arginine (especially when combined with Lysine) may stimulate the release of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) from the Pituitary Gland:  ^[11]

 In one human study 1,200 mg Lysine combined with 1,200 mg Arginine was ten times more effective at stimulating hGH release than Arginine alone.  ^[12]

 Another (different) study concluded that Arginine does not stimulate hGH release unless it is administered in the form of Arginine Pyroglutamate and combined with Lysine Hydrochloride.

 Some studies have shown that a likely mechanism for Arginine stimulating hGH release is by inhibiting Somatostatin (a Hormone that inhibits the release of hGH).  ^[13]

 Some researchers regard the Arginine Aspartate form of Arginine as the best form of Arginine for stimulating the release of hGH from the Pituitary Gland.

 Arginine may help to restore blood levels of Thymic Hormones to youthful levels.  ^[14]

Minerals

 Arginine is the preferred Amino Acid for chelation with Manganese (i.e. for Manganese in its chelated Manganese form).

 Arginine is the primary source of the Nitrogen molecules that comprise the Nitric Oxide (NO) molecule.

Neurotransmitters

 Arginine is the primary source of the Nitrogen molecules that comprise the Nitric Oxide (NO) molecule.  ^[15]

Nucleic Compounds

 Arginine facilitates the conversion of Guanosine Triphosphate (GTP) to Cyclic GMP (cGMP).  This occurs from Arginine''s function as a precursor for Nitric Oxide.  When Nitric Oxide activates Nitric Oxide Receptors it stimulates a specific G-Protein that activates Guanyl Cyclase which catalyzes the conversion of Guanosine Triphosphate to Cyclic GMP.  ^[16]

Proteins

 Arginine may enhance the production of Beta-Defensins.  ^[17]

 Arginine is a (minor) constituent of Collagen (of which it comprises approximately 5%) - Arginine also enhances the function of Collagen and stimulates the production of Collagen.  ^[18]

 Arginine is a major component of Histones.