L-Arginine is crystalline, free-form amino
acid. It is a important factor in muscle metabolism and works to transport,
store and excrete nitrogen and is involved in DNA synthesis. It is also a
precursor of guanidophosphate, phosphoarginine, and creatine, three high-energy
compounds found in muscles.
Arginine is very popular among athletes and bodybuilders
because it is required in muscle metabolism – maintaining the nitrogen balance,
and helping with weight control since it facilitates the increase of muscle
mass, while reducing body fat. Arginine is required in muscle metabolism –
maintaining the nitrogen balance, and helping with weight control since it
facilitates the increase of muscle mass, while reducing body fat.
Arginine is a non-essential amino acid which is called a
conditionally-essential amino acid. Arginine is abundant in protamines and
histones – both proteins associated with nucleic acids and was first isolated in
1895 from animal horn. Newborns may produce this amino acid too slowly and for
them arginine should be seen as an essential amino acid.
Arginine is extremely useful in
enhancing the immune system, and it increases the size and activity of the
thymus gland, which is responsible for manufacturing T lymphocytes – the much
talked about T-cells, which assist the immune system. For this reason arginine
might be an important nutrient for people suffering from AIDS and other
malignant diseases which suppress the immune system.
In the pancreas arginine is used to
release insulin and in the pituitary gland it is a component of human growth
hormone, and is used in sexual stimulants, as people report longer and more
intense orgasms when their intake of arginine is increased.
Arginine is also important in liver
health and assists in neutralizing ammonia in the liver, while it is also
involved in the skin and connective tissue – making it important in healing and
repair of tissue as well as the formation of collagen and building of new bone
and tendons.
Arginine is found in seminal fluid and
L-arginine is used in the treatment of male sexual health and has been used in
the treatment of sterility.
