Abstracts
Growth Hormone
Growth hormone secretion and antibody production
L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation increases weight gain, depresses antibody production, and alters circulating leukocyte populations in preruminant calves. In a animal study, sixteen newborn calves were randomly assigned to two groups: one with Arg supplementation(Arg+) and one without Arg supplementation(Arg-). The Arg supplementation had raised plasma L-Arg 2.8 fold and urea concentrations by 26% in the Arg+ group. Average daily gain (ADG) among the Arg+ calves increased during the first, third and fifth weeks after birth. L-arginine supplementation decreased total and KLH-specific IgG concentrations, as well as absolute numbers of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. Overall growth hormone secretion was not increased.
Fligger, J.M; Gibson, C.A; Sordillo, L.M; Baumrucker, C.R: Arginine supplementation increases weight gain, depresses antibody production, and alters circulating leukocyte profiles in preruminant calves without affecting plasma growth hormone concentrations, Journal-of-animal-science (USA). (Nov 1997) v. 75(11) p. 3019-3025
HIV & Arginine
HIV
Arginine and omega-3 fatty acids supplements may not improve immunological response in HIV patients. The effects of arginine and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation among HIV patients were examined. According to the results, body weight and fat mass increased by 2 and 1 kg, respectively, in both groups. CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts were statistically unchanged and were similar in both groups. While arginine and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may be linked with weight gain, it does not improve immunity in HIV patients.
Pichard, C; Sudre, P; Karsegard, V; Yerly, S; Slosman, DO; Delley, V; Perrin, L; Hirschel, B: A randomized double-blind controlled study of 6 months of oral nutritional supplementation with arginine and omega-3 fatty acids in HIV-infected patients, AIDS. 1998 Jan 1; 12(1): 53-63
Colorectal Cancer & Arginine
Colorectal cancer
L-arginine may significantly alter the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in colorectal cancers in vivo. The effects of L-arginine supplementation on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes among patients with colorectal cancer were determined. Patients receiving L-arginine had increased numbers of specific cell subsets within the tumor expressing CD16 and CD56 surface markers. Control patients did not have similar results with their tumors. No differences were found in the total number of T and B cells, T helper and T suppressor cells. Thus, L-arginine may enhance cytotoxicity within a tumor microenvironment. The implications of these findings are important for developing new anticancer treatment strategies.
Heys, SD; Segar, A; Payne, S; Bruce, DM; Kernohan, N; Eremin, O: Dietary supplementation with L-arginine: modulation of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with colorectal cancer, : Br-J-Surg. 1997 Feb; 84(2):
238-41
Burn Injury
Burn injury
Arginine supplementation may be used in the treatment of burns. The effects of arginine on metabolism and immunity among burnt guinea pigs were observed. The guinea pigs were randomized into four groups, each of which were given a diet containing different concentrations of arginine. Groups A, B, C, and D were given 0%, 1%, 2%, and 4% of total energy intake as arginine in the form of crystalline arginine hydrochloride, respectively. The average body weight decreased equally in all groups. Resting metabolic expenditure was best among those with 1% and 2% arginine supplementation. Mortality (22%) was lowest in the group receiving 2% arginine supplements, with mortality(29%) in the group receiving 1% arginine being the next lowest. Dietary arginine supplementation up to 2% of total energy intake may be beneficial in the event of a burn injury.
Saito, H; Trocki, O; Wang, SL; Gonce, SJ; Joffe, SN; Alexander, JW: Metabolic and immune effects of dietary arginine supplementation after burn, Arch-Surg. 1987 Jul; 122(7): 784-9
Coronary Artery Disease & Arginine
Coronary artery disease
L-arginine may be therapeutic for patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction and nonobstructive coronary artery disease. In this trial, the effects of L-arginine on coronary endothelial dysfunction were determined. After 6 months of therapy, the coronary blood flow among subjects receiving L-arginine increased 20% whereas the control group had only 9% increase. Patients taking the supplement also experienced an improvement in symptoms and a decrease in plasma endothelin concentrations. L-arginine supplementation therefore improves coronary small-vessel endothelial function.
Lerman, A; Burnett, JC Jr; Higano, ST; McKinley, LJ; Holmes, DR Jr: Long-term L-arginine supplementation improves small-vessel coronary endothelial function in humans, Circulation. 1998 Jun 2; 97(21): 2123-8
Cylosporine Nephrotoxicity
Cylosporine nephrotoxicity
L-Arginine, a precursor for nitric oxide, may alleviate chronic cyclosporine (CsA) nephropathy. Rats with chronic CsA nephrotoxicity were administered CsA, CsA + L-Arginine, CsA + D-Arginine, or CsA the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME. L-Arginine treatment significantly increased nitric oxide biosynthesis and prevented animals from developing tubulointerstitial fibrosis(TIF) induced by cyclosporine, whereas D-Arginine had no such effect. L-NAME significantly reduced urinary NO and worsened TIF in comparison to the CsA group. Blocking NO production is thus associated with aggravated chronic CsA nephrotoxicity. L-Arginine supplementation enhances NO production which can improve chronic CsA nephrotoxicity.
Andoh, TF; Gardner, MP; Bennett, WM: Protective effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation on chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, Transplantation. 1997 Nov 15; 64(9): 1236-40
Bacterial Translocation
Acute liver injury and Bacterial translocation
Arginine supplementation inhibits bacterial translocation and reduces the extent of liver injury. In a study, the role of nitric oxide on the effects of arginine supplementation in acute liver injury, bacterial translocation, ileal and cecal mucosal nucleotides, and RNA and DNA was observed. Normal, liver injury control, L-NAME, arginine, and L-NAME + arginine supplementation groups were tested. The L-NAME group, bilirubin and liver enzymes increased significantly compared with the arginine group, as well as bacterial translocation from portal to arterial blood compared with all groups. In the arginine group, liver enzymes increased compared with the liver injury control group, while bacterial translocation decreased significantly. The ileal and cecal mucosal nucleotides, RNA, and DNA in rats were significantly increased in the arginine group compared to the normal, liver injury control, and L-NAME groups. Nitric oxide therefore plays a role in the beneficial effects of arginine supplementation in acute liver injury. When its production was inhibited by L-NAME, bacterial translocation increased. When its production was increased by arginine, bacterial translocation decreased.
Adawi, D; Molin, G; Jeppsson, B: Inhibition of nitric oxide modulates the effect of oral arginine supplementation in acute liver injury, Scand-J-Gastroenterol. 1997 Aug; 32(8): 835-40
Age-related Kidney Dysfunction
Age-related renal dysfunction
L-Arginine may prevent age-related kidney dysfunction. According to this study, L-arginine supplementation was given to rats to determine if it prevents age-related renal dysfunction. L-arginine treatment decreased urinary protein and increased urinary nitrate/nitrite. However, two weeks after treatment was stopped, urinary protein increased and urinary nitrate decreased to control levels. L-Arginine treatment raised the glomerular filtration rate(GFR) by 50% compared to untreated controls. L-Arginine may prevent age-related glomerular injury and reduction in GFR.
Reckelhoff, JF; Kellum, JA Jr; Racusen, LC; Hildebrandt, DA: Long-term dietary supplementation with L-arginine prevents age-related reduction in renal function, Am-J-Physiol. 1997 Jun; 272(6 Pt 2): R1768-74
Ulcer Healing
Ulcer healing
Arginine, yeast RNA and yeast + arginine diets may accelerate ulcer healing.
Rats were administered either yeast RNA containing nucleotides or arginine, glutamine, fish oil, guar gum or a combination of yeast RNA and arginine diets in order to study the rate of ulcer healing. Yeast RNA, arginine, and yeast RNA plus arginine diets significantly lowered the number of ulcers number by 56%, 28%, and 34%, respectively and ulcer length by 67%, 41%, and 48%, respectively. The other agents had no impact on ulcer healing. Arginine, yeast RNA and the combination of both all might be beneficial for ulcer conditions. It is postulated that increased cell proliferation may be an underlying mechanism contributing to ulcer healing.
Sukumar, P; Loo, A; Magur, E; Nandi, J; Oler, A; Levine, RA: Dietary supplementation of nucleotides and arginine promotes healing of small bowel ulcers in experimental ulcerative ileitis, Dig-Dis-Sci. 1997 Jul; 42(7): 1530-6
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia
Dietary L-arginine supplementation can restore endogenous nitric oxide activity and inhibit platelet aggregation among patients with hypercholesterol conditions. In this trial, L-arginine, a nitric oxide precursor, was studied based on its effect on nitric oxide activity in platelets. Platelet reactivity decreased from 68.6% to 52.6% among patients treated with L-arginine. After 18 weeks without the agent, platelet reactivity increased to 73.6%. L-arginine enhances endogenous nitric oxide activity which can improve hypercholesterol conditions.
Wolf, A; Zalpour, C; Theilmeier, G; Wang, BY; Ma, A; Anderson, B; Tsao, PS; Cooke, JP: Dietary L-arginine supplementation normalizes platelet aggregation in hypercholesterolemic humans, J-Am-Coll-Cardiol. 1997 Mar 1; 29(3): 479-85
L-arginine therapy may alleviate hypercholesterolemia-induced abnormalities in endothelial cells. Rabbits were administered a normal or 1% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks with and without L-arginine supplementation. The effect of the agent on endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the jugular veins was examined. L-arginine supplementation lowered bradykinin hypersensitivity but did not affect hypercholesterolemia-induced hypersensitivity to norepinephrine serotonin and histamine. L-arginine also prevented hypercholesterolemia intereference with acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation. L-arginine supplementation improves venous endothelial cell but not smooth muscle cell dysfunction caused by long-term diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.
Davies, MG; Barber, E; Dalen, H; Hagen, PO: L-arginine supplementation improves venous endothelial cell but not smooth muscle cell dysfunction induced by prolonged diet- induced hypercholesterolemia, J-Invest-Surg. 1996 Nov-Dec; 9(6): 415-22
Acute Liver Injury
Acute liver injury
Oral supplementation of arginine significantly improves liver injury in an acute liver injury model and reduces bacterial translocation to liver and mesenteric lymph nodes. The effect of oral arginine supplementation on liver injury and secondary bacterial infection among rats was studied. The arginine supplementation group had significantly reduced presence of bacteria in the liver and mesenteric lymph nodes as compared with the acute liver injury control group. In addition, while the acute liver injury group had more and widespread hepatocellular necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, the arginine supplementation group had fewer and scattered affected areas. Bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced significantly in the supplementation group as compared with the acute liver injury control group.
Adawi, D; Kasravi, FB; Molin, G; Jeppsson, B: Oral arginine supplementation in acute liver injury, Nutrition. 1996 Jul-Aug; 12(7-8): 529-33
Angina Pectoris
Angina pectoris
L-arginine may improve vasodilation of the circulation system among patients with microvascular angina pectoris or thoracic pain. The effect of L-arginine on acetylcholine-induced coronary vasomotion was examined among patients with microvascular angina and control subjects. An overall result was that L-Arginine significantly increased the coronary blood flow responses to acetylcholine among patients; the agent did not have the same effect with the control group.
Egashira, K; Hirooka, Y; Kuga, T; Mohri, M; Takeshita A: Effects of L-arginine supplementation on endothelium-dependent coronary vasodilation in patients with angina pectoris and normal coronary arteriograms, Circulation. 1996 Jul 15; 94(2): 130-4
Renal Hypertension
Renal hypertension
Oral L-arginine may help to reduce sodium retention and hypertension in renal arteries, according to this animal study. Dahl salt-sensitive and -resistant rats were fed a high NaCl diet for four weeks, and their renal arteries were then tested for tension. Rats that received oral L-arginine during the high-salt diet did not develop renal hypertension, and their renal arteries did not develop endothelium-derived contracting factor (a response to hypertension that impairs vasorelaxation).
Zhou MS, et al: L-Arginine improves endothelial function in renal artery of hypertensive Dahl rats J Hypertens 2001 Mar;19(3):421-9
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