Arginine

Arginine is one of the semi-essential amino acids and a certain part of it is produced by our body. While almost 65% of it is produced, we procure the rest from food. It is abundant in meat and meat products, especially in foods with high protein content.
Since the amount produced in our body is not enough, it is essential to take a certain amount of Arginine from the outside.

What Does Arginine Do in the Body?

Arginine is a very useful amino acid indeed. Many studies have been done on it and it has been suggested to be used in many different diseases. The most important benefits of using arginine are that it increases blood circulation and flow. It fulfills this function by expanding a vessel by turning into nitric oxide.

This has many advantages. Your immune system is strengthened, fertility increases, your detox ability increases. Another benefit of arginine is that it causes an increase in hormone production. Growth hormone and insulin are the most important of these. These hormones increase physical performance, endurance and strength.

Other Benefits of Arginine

Fights inflammation
Reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis and vascular disease
Repairs blood vessels
Beneficial in congestive and coronary heart diseases
Useful in lowering high blood pressure

Improves athletic performance
Strengthens immunity
Relieves muscle pain
Regulates kidney function
Regulates mental activity
Fights dementia
Beneficial in erectile dysfunction and male infertility
Useful against colds.

When it comes to Arginine, it is necessary to know the most important metabolite, Nitric Oxide. Nitric oxide is a reactive gas produced by animals and plants. It is formed as a result of nitric oxide arginine and nitric oxide synthase enzyme and a series of processes in the body. Arginine is converted to nitric oxide for use by endothelial cells in the vessel wall and it performs many benefits through this system.

When arginine is not enough in the body, the risk of halp disease increases in people.

Now we will talk about the benefits of Arginine under 5 main headings:

1-) Good for Heart Health:

Studies show that Arginine is good for suppressing inflammation and for cardiovascular diseases. This is the reason why oral arginine supplementation is the most recommended product by cardiologists. Oral arginine is used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people at high risk of heart disease.

In addition, arginine reduces the high cholesterol value in patients, reduces the risk of congestive heart disease, causes a decrease in endurance and heart-related chest pain(1). It relieves chest pain by increasing the Nitric Oxide value. Finally, arginine causes an increase in exercise performance. This is especially evident in people with circulatory problems and a history of heart disease.

2-) Anti-aging Effect by reducing inflammation:

In addition to its heart health effects, arginine is very successful in fighting diseases caused by inflammation. In particular, arginine, which has the ability to reduce free radicals, has an anti-aging effect. It achieves this effect by the mechanism of the Superoxide Dismutase enzyme. Generally, Arginine is used in combination with Omega 3 and Vitamin C in suppressing chronic diseases and removing free radicals(2).

Arginine also regulates central nervous system and immune system functions. It does this thanks to Nitric Oxide, which acts as a neurotransmitter and protects the brain from external influences.
Arginine also provides benefits in some metabolic diseases and in the increase of ammonia in the blood as a result of urethral trauma, by reducing the amount of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia is a substance that occurs with protein breakdown in the body, causes necrosis and causes cellular destruction and inflammation(3).

3-) Increases Exercise Performance:

We mentioned that arginine increases blood circulation and this situation carries oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and joints. This effect is the reason why arginine enhances exercise performance with minimal pain. In addition, it increases healing by increasing blood flow and healing in patients with cold hands and feet, circulatory disorders, arthritis or diabetes. It has been scientifically proven that arginine supplementation provides a reduction in walking distance and muscle soreness (4).

In addition, arginine increases human growth hormone, prolactin and amino acids such as Proline, Creatine, Glutamate. These substances allow glucose to enter the cell by balancing insulin levels. It also provides rapid recovery in muscle injuries.
There are studies showing that growth hormone is significantly increased in patients who take 5 to 9 grams of arginine supplements(5). Even at rest, arginine increases growth hormone by 100%. This can cause an increase in muscle structure even without exercise. If arginine is used in addition to exercise, this value increases between 300% and 500%.

In addition, arginine also helps increase muscle building in another way by increasing the value of insulin in the blood. These hormonal changes provide improvement and continuity in the musculoskeletal system.

4-) Strengthens immunity, Prevents Spread of Infection:

It has been reported that cancer and some diseases increase in patients with low arginine value. Lymphocytes and T lymphocytes, which are the main cells of the immune system, need arginine to fulfill the task of protecting the body (6).

Thanks to omega 3 and vitamin supplements used in addition to arginine, the risk of infection is significantly reduced. This is particularly evident in respiratory diseases. In addition, arginine is very useful in cancer patients and postoperative wound healing. Proline produced by arginine increases collagen synthesis in the skin and reduces antioxidant activity.

It is also used in burn healing and reduces dental caries. However, studies on these issues are not sufficient.

5-) Helps Treat Erectile Dysfunction and Infertility:

In many studies, we talked about the benefits of arginine in cell renewal and blood circulation. As a result of these benefits, it causes an increase in sperm production and in addition, sperm movements. Erectile dysfunction is more common especially in men with heart disease. The amount of nitric oxide in these patients is also markedly low. In some studies, it is mentioned that arginine treats erectile dysfunction treatment with up to 92% success. Some studies have shown that stress suppresses the formation of sperm from arginine. Therefore, arginine is more effective in people with less stress. In addition, it has been shown that when Glutamate and Arginine are used together, it is more successful than the use of arginine alone. In addition, many drugs are used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction by increasing nitric oxide, such as arginine. It also increases the genital blood flow in women, providing benefits in sexual problems and infertility. In addition, when arginine is used with antioxidants such as green tea and forest fruits, it increases fertility in women.

So are we getting enough arginine?

Arginine is an amino acid produced by the body. However, production at the required level changes due to inflammation, age, diet quality and genetic factors.
For example, arginine intake is low in vegan diets. In addition, poor intestinal health can cause insufficient arginine absorption.
So where can we get arginine as food?
Organic eggs
Dairy products such as yogurt and kefir
Grassland cattle and sheep
Sesame seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Almonds
Marine fish
Spirulina
India walnut

Arginine Dosage and Side Effects:

Arginine should never be used without a doctor’s control and permission. The dosage status varies according to the disease and the age of the person. For example, while 1 g daily is recommended for a healthier life in healthy adults, this rate can go up to 9 grams in post-operative wound healing.

As a side effect, it can cause gout due to increased protein. It can also cause abdominal pain, vomiting, low blood pressure, and diarrhea.

Happy and healthy days to all of you.