Supplementation with l-arginine and nitrates vs age and individual physiological reactivity

Abstract

Ageing is a natural ontogenetic phenomenon that entails a decrease in the adaptive capacity of the organism, as a result of which the body becomes less adaptable to stressful conditions. Nitrate and nitrite enter the body from exogenous sources and from nitrification of ammonia nitrogen by intestinal microorganisms. This review considers the mechanisms of action of l-arginine, a known inducer of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, and nitrates as supplements in the processes of ageing and aggravated stress states, in which mechanisms of individual physiological reactivity play an important role. This approach can be used as an element of individual therapy or prevention of premature ageing processes depending on the different levels of initial reactivity of the functional systems. A search was performed of the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases (n = 181 articles) and the author’s own research (n = 4) up to May 5, 2023. The review presents analyses of data on targeted treatment of NO generation by supplementation with l-arginine or nitrates, which is a promising means for prevention of hypoxic conditions frequently accompanying pathological processes in an ageing organism. The review clarifies the role of the individual state of physiological reactivity, using the example of individuals with a high predominance of cholinergic regulatory mechanisms who already have a significant reserve of adaptive capacity. In studies of the predominance of adrenergic influences, a poorly trained organism as well as an elderly organism correspond to low resistance, which is an additional factor of damage at increased energy expenditure. Conclusion: It is suggested that the role of NO synthesis from supplementation of dietary nitrates and nitrites increases with age rather than from oxygen-dependent biosynthetic reactions from l-arginine supplementation.

Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Intermediates and Individual Ageing

“…Precisely these mechanisms of the formation of effective nitric oxide depots provide effective preconditions for increasing metabolic reserves during the physical training of older people and prevent the onset of cardiovascular pathologies. The relationship between nitric oxide and vascular pathologies in older adults has been convincingly demonstrated in a number of studies [ 20 , 136 ] and is shown in Figure 3 . Physical activity in older people is important for maintaining the correct physiological ageing process [ 10 ].…”

“…It has been shown that high and low physiological reactivity of organism systems to the action of different adverse factors (stress, adaptation, resistance to hypoxia, etc.) depends on the intensity of oxygen consumption, metabolic peculiarities, behavioural reactions, and a number of other individual differences [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 20 ]. A long-term study of monozygotic twins conducted for 8 years at sea level and altitude has shown that the respiratory response to a hypoxic stimulus is a rigid, genetically determined, physiological characteristic reflecting the general non-specific reactivity of the organism [ 122 ].…”

“…On the other hand, exogenous AKG has cholinomimetic properties, exerting an effect on the ACh-cholinesterase system [ 134 , 135 , 136 ]. These two multidirectional systems are important for determining individual adaptation to low-oxygen conditions in the environment, which has been convincingly demonstrated in animals and humans with different levels of initial resistance to hypoxic and other loading [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 20 , 133 , 136 ].…”

“…In combination, all these functional–metabolic characteristics of low-resistant animals may be the cause of such diseases as diabetes, atherosclerosis, coronary thrombosis, ketoacidosis, etc., and the possibility of their development is much higher than in animals with high resistance, which classifies the former into a risk group with rapid fatigue and reduced performance. It is important that short- and long-term bioenergetic mechanisms of adaptation to hypoxia implemented during the life of each individual differ, which in turn can intensify the ageing programmes [ 19 , 20 ].…”