L-Arginine as a Potential Ergogenic Aid in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Dietary supplements containing L-arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, are one of the latest ergogenic aids intended to enhance strength, power and muscle recovery associated with both aerobic and resistance exercise. L-arginine is claimed to promote vasodilation by increasing nitric oxide (NO) production in the active muscle during exercise, improving strength, power and muscular recovery through increased substrate utilization and metabolite removal, such as lactate and ammonia. Research on L-arginine has recently tested this hypothesis, under the assumption that it may be the active compound associated with the vasodilator effects of NO. There were only five acute studies retrieved from the literature that evaluated exercise performance after L-arginine supplementation, three of which reported significant improvements. Regarding studies on chronic effects, eight studies were encountered: four reported enhancements in exercise performance, whilst four reports showed no changes. Whether these improvements in exercise performance - regardless of the aerobic or anaerobic nature of the exercise - can be associated with increases in NO production, has yet to be demonstrated in future studies. Low oral doses (≤20 g) are well tolerated and clinical side effects are rare in healthy subjects. In summary, it is still premature to recommend dietary supplements containing L-arginine as an ergogenic aid for healthy physically active subjects.

Effect of argi+ and multi maca food supplements on sportsmen’s physical and functional capacity

“…We have found that food supplement ARGI+ has more appreciable influence on increasing single muscle capacity power and anaerobic alactic muscle power than using 20 days ARGI+ in combination with Multi Maca. As reported by T. Álvares et al (2011) [19] dietary supplements, containing L-arginine, helps to increase muscle strength, their recovery after anaerobic and aerobic exercise, removing metabolic products. Reasonable results were obtained by V. Imanipour et al (2012) [13], who studied the effects of L-arginine on methabolism and anaerobic capacity.…”

“…T. Alvares et al (2011) [19] concludes, that the intake of L-arginine improves the blood flow, so the muscles are better supplied with the necessary substances. Moreover it also promotes greater removal of metabolities, such as lactate and ammonia Study data showed, that L-arginine intake improves metabolic process, stimulates muscles cells and inhibits fat cells proliferation, which increases muscle mass, improves muscular recovery and decreases fat mass.…”

Effect of pre-exercise single dose arginine ingestion on plasma amino acid profile during exhaustive exercise in elite male wrestlers

“…Dietary supplements containing arginine, a semiessential amino acid, are one of the latest ergogenic aids intended to enhance strength, power and muscle recovery associated with both aerobic and resistance exercise [1]. It appears that there is an increasing interest in arginine-based supplements, and, therefore, more knowledge about its effects in healthy physically active subjects is needed [1].…”

“…It appears that there is an increasing interest in arginine-based supplements, and, therefore, more knowledge about its effects in healthy physically active subjects is needed [1]. Arginine administration has been claimed to promote an increase in blood perfusion in the active muscle [2], increasing substrates necessary for improving muscular recovery and protein synthesis during and/or after exercise.…”

“…It also promotes greater removal of metabolites, such as lactate and ammonia [3], which are related to muscle fatigue during intense physical exercise. Review analysis [4] of the effect of both oral and intravenous arginine administration on metabolism at rest and during exercise emphasized that arginine supplementation appears to improve exercise capacity in individuals with cardiovascular disease, but had little impact on aerobic exercise capacity in healthy individuals [4]; while a very recent review claims that there is no clear evidence that arginine supplementation increases the performance regardless of the aerobic or anaerobic nature of the exercise and it is still premature to recommend dietary supplements containing arginine as an ergogenic aid for healthy physically active subjects [1]. There were only five acute studies retrieved from the literature that evaluated exercise performance after arginine supplementation [5][6][7][8][9], three of which reported significant improvements [5,6,9].…”