L-Arginine: Stimulates Growth Hormones

L-Arginine is an amino acid found in the body. It has many functions, such as helping the body get rid of the waste product ammonia, converting to glucose and glycogen when the body needs it, and making compounds in the body like L-glutamine. L-Arginine is known to make nitric oxide, which helps to relax the blood vessels. This is a benefit to those with heart disease, intermittent claudication and erectile dysfunction. L-Arginine also takes part in forming proteins and stimulates growth hormones.

L-Arginine is mostly used for:

Heart disease—Basically, L-arginine is used to reduce the stiffness of blood vessels and improves the function of blood vessels by improving blood flow. Although it is thought to improve blood flow, those who have just suffered from a heart attack are discouraged from using this amino acid following the attack. A study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health found that patients who were given the amino acid right after a heart attack were more prone to die than those who didn’t take the amino acid. Researchers believe that L-arginine can aggravate the attack.
Erectile Dysfunction—it is thought that L-arginine aids those with erectile dysfunction because it enhances the action of nitric oxide, which relaxes muscles surrounding the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. When the blood vessels in the penis dilate, it helps an erection last longer.

The body usually has enough L-arginine since it is conditionally essential. It is produced in the kidneys and liver. Those who take L-arginine should be advised that because it forms nitric oxide it may lower blood pressure. Users can also experience headaches, nausea and indigestion. If taken in high doses, it can increase stomach acid, which results in worse cases of heartburn and other digestive malfunctions.