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ARGININE HCL

Arginine is often used in recovery spay to increase blood flow and enhance the rate of recovery. The quicker blood is delivered to the muscle in larger volumes, the higher the chances of a faster recovery are. This is due to the increase in overall nutrition which is provided to muscle tissue.

 

ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE IN SKELETAL MUSCLE BLOOD FLOW AT REST AND DURING DYNAMIC EXERCISE IN HUMANS

Eight physically active men were the subject of a study in which the dormant and active hyperemic response within skeletal muscle of Niotiric Oxide was measured. Three microdialysis probes were inserted into the vastus lateralis of the quadriceps femoris muscle group in each subject. A Ringer solution with containing 5.0 mM ethanol, 2.5 mM glucose, and either 10 mg/ml of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-Arginine (L-NMMA) monoacetate salt, 30 mg/ml of the nitric oxide precursor L-Arginine, or no additional substance (control probe) was perfused with Microdialysis probes.

 

The subjects of the study were asked to perform one legged cycling exercises at various work rates from 25 to 100 W.

Microdialysis probes were perfused with a Ringer solution Subjects performed one-legged cycling exercise at work rates ranging from 25 to 100 W. Dialysate and perfusate ethanol concentrations were presented as the ratio of [ethanol]dialysate to [ethanol]perfusate (ethanol outflow-to-inflow ratio), an indicator that is inversely related to blood flow. The ethanol outflow-to-inflow ratios at rest were 0.523 +/- 0.023, 0.578 +/- 0.039 and 0.614 +/- 0.032, and in the L-Arginine, control probes, and L-NMMA,, respectively.

 

Calculated resting blood flows were therefore 8.7 +/- 4.1, 20.5 +/- 4.6, and 14.0 +/- 4.7 ml.min-1.100 g-1 around the L-NMMA, L-Arginine, and control probes, respectively. The ethanol outflow-to-inflow ratios were significantly higher at all exercise intensities in the L-NMMA probe than in the control and L-Arginine probes, resulting in calculated blood flows of 195 +/- 55, 407 +/- 47, and 352 +/- 60 ml.min-1.100 g-1 at 25 W and 268 +/- 65, 602 +/- 129, and 519 +/- 113 ml.min-1.100 g-1 at 100 W around the L-NMMA, L-Arginine, and control probes, respectively. Skeletal muscle blood flow was therefore reduced both at rest and during continuous, dynamic exercise by the action of L-NMMA, whereas blood flow was increased only at rest by L-Arginine.

 

AMINO ACID MIXTURE IMPROVES TRAINING EFFICIENCY IN ATHLETES

The dietary amino acid supplement is a mixture of amino acids which include Arginine, and glutamine. These branched chain amino acids were studied chronically on several daily dose levels for periods ranging from 10, 30, and 90 days.

 

Variables for potential outcomes included damage, fatigue, blood indices, and oxygen carrying capacity along with other measures of muscle strength. One result of the amino acid supplement was the improvement in recovery rates from muscle fatigue which was caused due to eccentric exercise training.

 

Another study centered on dose response considered amino acid mixtures at 2.2.4.4 and 6.6 g per day for an entire month. This revealed that the highest dose of the mixture increased the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and decreases muscle damage.

 

The amino acid mixture was also administered on elite rugby players during training periods. The dose administered was 7.2 g per day and included a blood component analysis which revealed improvement in oxygen carrying capabilities.

 

These two studies suggest that the amino acid supplement is instrumental in contributing to improved training efficiency through positive effects on hematopoiesis and muscle integrity.

 

THE VASCULAR EFFECTS OF L-ARGININE IN HUMANS & THE ROLE OF ENDOGENOUS INSULIN

Another study aimed at the evaluation of increased availability of natural precursors such as nitric oxide and L Arginine and the manner in which they could influence systemic hemodynamic and rheological parameters in humans. It also assessed whether L-Arginine effects are a result of the mediation of endogenous insulin. 10 healthy young subjects participated in the following studies;

 

STUDY I

Infusion of L-Arginine (1 g/min for 30 min)

L-Arginine infusion significantly reduced systolic (11+/-3, mean+/-SE) and diastolic (8+/-2 mmHg, P < 0.001) blood pressure, platelet aggregation (20+/-4%), and blood viscosity (1.6+/-0.2 centipois, P < 0.01), and increased leg blood flow (97+/-16 ml/min), heart rate, and plasma catecholamine levels (P < 0.01).

 

STUDY II

Infusion of L-Arginine plus octreotide (25 microg as i.v. bolus + 0.5 microg/min) to block endogenous insulin and glucagon secretion, plus replacement of basal insulin and glucagon. In study II, plasma insulin levels remained suppressed at baseline; in this condition, the vascular responses to L-Arginine were significantly reduced, except for plasma catecholamine which did not change significantly.

 

STUDY III

Infusion of L-Arginine plus octreotide plus basal glucagon plus an insulin infusion designed to mimic the insulin response of study I. In study III, the plasma insulin response to L-Arginine was reestablished; this was associated with hemodynamic and rheologic changes following L-Arginine not significantly different from those recorded in study I. that the findings revealed that the systemic infusion of L-Arginine in healthy subjects induced vasodilation and inhibited platelet aggregation and blood viscosity. These effects are mediated, in part, by endogenous released insulin.

 

EFFECTS OF ARGININE AND ORNITHINE ON STRENGTH, LEAN BODY MASS AND URINARY HYDROXYPROLINE IN ADULT MALES

A 5 week progressive strength training program with twenty adult males was conducted to measure the placebo effect of such m mixtures. Half the participants were given the amino acid mixture containing L-Arginine and L-ornithine, whereas the other half was given a placebo.

A double blind protocol was administered so the investigators as well as participants were unaware of which participants were administered placebos. Dosages amounted to 2 grams or 1 gram each of L-Arginine and L-ornithine, and 600 mg of calcium and 1 gram of Vitamin C as placebos.

 

These supplements were taken orally for a total of 25 administrations. Following the short term strength program using progressively high intensities, tests were taken for total strength (TS), lean body mass (LBM) and urinary hydroxyproline (UH). The results from ANOVA showed that subjects who were taking the Arginine-ornithine combination scored significantly higher in TS and LBM (p less than .05), and significantly lower in UH (p less than .05), than subjects on placebos.

 

After the study, it was concluded that ornithine and Arginine, in prescribed doses when administered in conjunction with a high intensity strength training program, had the ability to increase LBM and TS in relatively short amount of time. Arginine and ornithine also aid in recovery from chronic stress by quelling tissue breakdown as evidenced by lower UH levels.