What Is L-Arginine? – Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage, Supplements & Pills

L-Arginine is a healthy ingredient that has good effects on people both overall health and even with sexual health.

This natural ingredient is can be found in maximum supplementary pills, especially male enhancement, improving and increasing the sex life of men. L-Arginine can also be found in bodybuilding supplements.

Let’s find out how a natural ingredient can help people out!

L-Arginine:

L-Arginine is one of the famous ingredients that is said to fix some major health problems.

It is an Amino Acid [1] that can help in building proteins in the body.

Unlike many other amino acids, the human body needs L-Arginine which can help in healthy body functioning.

L-Arginine is a form of naturally derived amino acid that is also known as the building block of protein. Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is present in the body that produces adequate amounts of it. However, in infants with impaired health issues, this works as a nutrient.

The alphabet L in L-Arginine is a common prefix used to denote a particular structure.

This nutrient is also popular among various athletes and professional bodybuilders.

The human body uses maximum proteins that can help in building and rebuilding tissues and muscles.

According to studies, our body makes all the L-Arginine required for healthy functioning.

What is L-Arginine

If you are trying to consume L-Arginine topically or orally then it can be effective to your health.

This ingredient can act as a vasodilator that can help to dilate blood vessels.

According to health experts, L-Arginine is very effective to treat Erectile Dysfunction [2] and cardiovascular conditions.

As per research, L-Arginine can be effective in treating tissue waste during serious illness as well as can aid severe wounds.

L-Arginine can help to boost nitric oxide production in the body. Nitric Oxide is a gas that is responsible for carrying out various biological functions. It does so by enhancing blood circulation and aiding in the functioning of the nervous system. It also serves as a neurotransmitter.

Not only does our body produce this natural amino acid, but this healthy diet and exercise can help in building L-Arginine.

How Does L-Arginine Work?

L-Arginine is one of the essential amino acids as it can help in many health functions.

According to doctors, this amino acid is present in low quantities in the body. The older you get, the lesser it gets, which is why it is essential to eat L-Arginine-containing food or supplements.

As per studies, the ability to improve blood flow and circulation is one of the biggest benefits of L-Arginine.

When this amino acid gets into the body, it converts into nitric oxide that can help in opening wider blood vessels.

This amino acid has numerous benefits that include improving fertility, brainpower, immune functioning, and detoxification.

Another benefit found of this amino acid is, it enhances the production of certain hormones.

These include insulin and beneficial growth hormones that can help usher glucose into cells. The glucose can then be used for energy and growth output.

This is one of the reasons why the supplement industry uses L-Arginine as an ingredient as it can help increase stamina, physical performance, and strength.

What Are The L-Arginine Benefits?

L-Arginine can help in two of the major aspects such as building body proteins and turning them into Nitric Oxide for maximum health benefits.

It is because of this natural acid and its numerous health benefits it can also help in treating heart health, improving male fertility, aiding chest pain, repairing wounds and building muscles.

Following are some of the benefits that are found in people after taking L-Arginine:

  • Controlling blood sugar in diabetic patients
  • Correcting inborn errors of urea synthesis
  • Reducing high blood pressure
  • Treating erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • Growth hormone reserve test
  • Easing inflammation of the digestive tract in premature infants
  • Treating heart disease

Additionally, research has also found that this amino acid can help in other issues too. Some of them are as follows:

  • Treat burns
  • Enhance exercise performance
  • Heal wounds faster
  • Improve kidney function for people with congestive heart failure
  • Improve blood flow
  • Alleviate anxiety

L-Arginine Treats-Depression-and-Anxiety

What Are The Natural Ways To Get L-Arginine?

The best way to get L-Arginine is through a proper diet.

This can be difficult! And due to this, some people opt for L-Arginine supplements that can help in increasing this natural amino acid.

It has often been found that food consumption might not help you in providing enough L-Arginine. This is why an individual should take their health expert’s suggestions before changing their diet.

Chickpeas can be one of the beneficial and good sources of L-Arginine. The natural source of L-Arginine food is high in proteins. One of the best primary sources of L-Arginine can be dairy products, red meat (beef), pork loin, chicken and turkey breast.

Rich-Source-Of-L-Arginine

For vegetarians, you can simply opt for plant-based products such as soybeans, peanuts, lentils, pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas.

Foods High in L-Arginine

  • Brazil nuts
  • Almonds
  • Walnuts
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Cage-free eggs
  • Spirulina
  • Sesame seeds
  • Wild-caught fish
  • Grass-fed beef or meat and pasture-raised poultry
  • Coconut meat
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Seaweed and sea vegetables
  • Dairy products like cultured yogurt, kefir, and raw cheeses
  • Liver and organ meats

How Does L-Arginine Support Weight Loss?

Arginine is a popular in-demand ingredient in the weight loss industry.

It has fat-burning properties as well as enhances mass muscle gain.

This is how it works:

Promotes Healthy Weight Loss

This brings about healthy weight loss in the body. It reduces fat mass and preserves or promotes lean muscle mass.

Boosts Nitric Oxide Production

L-Arginine aids to increase nitric oxide levels in the body. As a result of this, it enhances the activity of AMPK which is a protein that maintains energy balance.

It reduces the expression of genes which increase the production of fat and glucose. It improves the sensitivity of the hormone lipase. This supports with regards to the breakdown of fats.

L-Arginine also helps to stimulate the activity of biological molecules that contribute to burning fat using the brown fat tissues.

L-Arginine Makes Use Of Genes That Use Fat Metabolism

As per scientific research, it has been proved that L-Arginine favors the metabolism of fats by muscles.

This prevents the accumulation of fats in the fat tissue.

Another study has also shown that Arginine promotes mass muscle gain and helps to burn fat at the same time.

Promotes Increase Of Brown Fat

The human body consists of two types of fat, brown and white.

White fat accumulates, and brown fat helps to burn fat.

Arginine contributes to regulating the expression of genes and promotes the development of brown fat.

Promotes Glucose and Insulin Levels

The human body requires a good balance of glucose and insulin levels to avoid the deposition of carbohydrates as fats.

Arginine works as a favorable influence on insulin activity which helps to keep the blood sugar levels under control.

This also supports healthy carbohydrate metabolism.

L-Arginine Helps To Get Rid Of Stubborn Belly Fat

This compound proves to be one of the best benefits as it effectively targets to get rid of belly fat.

As per clinical research conducted, it has been proved that the efficiency of arginine on the abdominal fat of 20 experimental subjects was decreased.

The experiment was done for a time span of 3 weeks, and the results were that the waist circumference was decreased by four cms and weight reduction that happened was 3 kilos loss.

The results also suggested that the effect was caused due to L-Arginine only. The results were safe without any side effects taking place on the body.

Thus, apart from promoting an overall weight loss, it is noticed that arginine helps to target belly fat and get rid of the same.

Arginine Potentiates The Effects Of Regular Weight Loss

There was a 21-day clinical trial conducted in obese individuals, and these people also had type 2 diabetes.

They were recruited in a low-calorie diet inclusive of exercise training. This group was made to split into two groups; one group received arginine (8.3 gms per day) and the other received placebo.

The results were that weight loss was observed in both groups. However, arginine further helped to reduce fat mass and belly fat.

It enhanced the glucose profile, and antioxidant production and stimulated the activity of relative hormones.

Other L-Arginine Benefits

  • Reducing muscle pains
  • Improving kidney function
  • Lowering risk for arteriosclerosis and heart attack
  • Fighting Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) [4] and Coronary Artery Disease [5]
  • Fighting inflammation
  • Increasing immune function
  • Improving mental capacity
  • Correcting impotence, erectile dysfunction (ED) and male infertility
  • Fighting dementia
  • Repairing blood vessels
  • Helping lower high blood pressure
  • Improving athletic performance
  • Preventing the common cold

L-Arginine For Women

As per The Journal Of The American Medical Association, 31 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women suffer from sexual problems that can be broadly defined as an inability to enjoy sexual activities fully.

According to reports, the low amount of L-Arginine in women can cause a lower sex drive.

This results in an inability to enjoy orgasm.

For greater sex, it is necessary to have a good amount of libido and desires, and L-Arginine can help women with it.

The other reports state that L-Arginine supplements can be good if someone is looking for some sexual endurance and greater orgasms.

L-Arginine For Men

For men, L-Arginine treats sexual health and functioning.

One of the effects of this amino acid is to treat erectile dysfunction and impotence.

According to a British Journal Of Urology in 1999, 5g of L-Arginine daily can help in improving sexual functioning in men which also includes erectile dysfunction.

As L-Arginine enhances the Nitric Oxide in the body, it results in an opening of blood vessels in the penis, allowing good blood flow in the penile chamber.

This results in good, long-lasting and hard erections in men that allow them to stay in performance for a longer time.

As per sources, L-Arginine was used from an early age to set up a man’s healthy sexual life and resolve all his sexual setbacks.

L-Arginine For Erectile Dysfunction

Reports suggest that men have complained about their impotence and are getting treated accordingly.

According to the survey, men are usually not comfortable talking and sharing about their sexual health with anyone. Not even with the health experts and the main reason can be the male ego.

As per research, nearly 20 per cent of men from the age of 55 are reported to have sexual difficulties and the percentage rises by the age of 75.

L-Arginine, when consumed by men converts into Nitric Oxide that boosts testosterone [7], a male sex hormone, that results in a boost in muscular growth, an increase in strength, power, and sex drive and supplies maximum blood flow to the male genital.

A healthy blood flow to penile chambers results in maximum sexual intercourse with harder and long-lasting erections, resulting in powerful and passionate orgasms.

As per health experts, L-Arginine can also help individuals who are suffering from Premature Ejaculation [8].

L-Arginine Dosage

It’s always best to know the perfect way to consume any eatable item.

It is always considered to get essential proteins and nutrients through food, L-Arginine can be such an item that you can get through prescription or over-the-counter.

It is always essential to get a brief of the consumption patterns, when you start using any supplements to avoid unnecessary side effects or complications.

So here are some of the dosage patterns that can help you to stay healthy and nutritious.

Dosage

  • 600 mg four times daily to prevent loss of Nitroglycerin [6] effectiveness that help in relieving chest pain, Coronary Artery Diseases etc.
  • 261 mg of added oral feedings daily for the first 28 days to prevent inflammation of premature infant’s digestive tract.
  • 6-20 grams daily three times a day for congestive heart failure patients.
  • 5 grams a day to treat erectile dysfunction. Consuming less than 5 grams might not help with desired results.

L-Arginine Side-Effects

The above-mentioned are the dosage that is supposed to be consumed as per the given quantity. Taking more than recommended dosage can result in side effects such as:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Gout
  • Allergic response
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea

Only after overdosing on this amino acid can this be experienced. So it is better if you consume this natural acid as per the given quantity.

Clinical Research

This amino acid cures health problems for centuries.

Scientists have undergone various clinical research and experiments that can help them know the actual use of L-Arginine and how it can help the human body to function healthily.

Some of the experiments, studies and clinical research are as follows:

L-Arginine For Enhancement Of Athletic Performance And Improvement In Recovery:

Many dietary and enhancement supplements contain L-Arginine.

These can be one of the latest ergogenic aids to result in maximum power, strength and muscle recovery with both resistance and aerobic exercises.

Regarding studies on chronic effects, eight studies were carried out, where four were reported to enhance exercise performance, and the other four showed no change.

Five acute studies concluded exercise performance after L-Arginine. Three out of five studies reported seeing significant improvements.

Higher NO levels are linked to improved exercise performance.

Pycnogenol And L-Arginine For Moderate Erectile Dysfunction

Japanese patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction were the participants of this trial. The goal of the study was to find and investigate the effectiveness and efficacy of Pycnogenol And L-Arginine.

Patients took Pycnogenol (60mg), Aspartic Acid (552mg), and L-Arginine (690mg) every day for eight weeks. The five-item erectile domain (International Index of Erectile Function) method evaluated the results.

This experiment measured testosterone, blood biochemistry, salivary and urinalysis.

The eight weeks of supplement consumption saw improvement and observed ‘satisfaction with sexual intercourse and ‘hardness of erection’ successfully.

In addition, salivary testosterone was up and blood pressure went down.

Thus, L-Arginine with Pycnogenol with L-Arginine as a dietary supplement is safe and effective with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients.

L-Arginine Supplements & Pills

You may find a lot of pills and supplements that contain this potent ingredient in them.

The most important thing to look for is whether these supplements contain the right amount of L-arginine in them.

Conclusion

As per research, the result shows that L-Arginine can be one of the effective ingredients if you are looking for some healthy change and functioning in the body.

As discussed above, it is essential that you take your health expert’s advice to avoid any health complications and it would be better if you don’t overtake this amino acid.

Consume L-Arginine as per the suggestion and see the changes it brings in you!

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About Michelle

Michelle is the senior most expert who writes for this website. After completing her graduation and 10+ years of practice, Michelle has been involved and known for a lot of her philanthropy work. Michelle loves spending time researching and writing her papers. She occasionally writes for us and we are extremely proud to have her as one of our editors. Follow me on Linkedin