L-Arginine as a Potential Ergogenic Aid in Healthy Subjects

• Published in: Sports medicine (Auckland) Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 233 - 248
• Main Authors: ALVARES, Thiago S, MEIRELLES, Cláudia M, BHAMBHANI, Yagesh N, PASCHOALIN, Vânia M. F, GOMES, Paulo S. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Auckland Adis International 01-03-2011; Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerobics; Amino acids; Arginine; Arginine - adverse effects; Arginine - pharmacology; Athletic Performance - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Dietary Supplements; Dosage and administration; Endothelium; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health aspects; Humans; Metabolism; Metabolites; Muscle Strength - drug effects; Musculoskeletal system; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Physical Endurance - drug effects; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Physiological aspects; Properties; Protein synthesis; Resistance Training; Search engines; Smooth muscle; Vasodilation - physiology; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Canada; Human; Improvement; Arginine; Physical performance; Nitric oxide; 3',5'-GMP; Review; Supplementation
• ISSN: 0112-1642; 1179-2035
• DOI: 10.2165/11538590-000000000-00000

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.