Arginine Supplement Side Effects

Arginine is an amino acid that is found in many foods and in supplement form. According to Dr. Chris Meletis, a naturopathic doctor, and Dr. Steven Bratman, a medical doctor, arginine as a supplement may cause gastrointestinal or stomach upset, elevated potassium levels, viral replication--which is how viruses reproduce and infect other cells--and excessive vasodilation, or extreme dilation of the blood vessels.

Gastrointestinal Upset

Dr. Bratman explains that gastrointestinal upset comes from an increase of gastrin, a hormone that triggers the production of stomach acid used to digest foods. When this happens, the stomach feels upset. When the stomach lining is weak or an ulcer has already developed, the discomfort is more severe and can even be quite painful. Those who take aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or some other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory are also at risk of having a weakened stomach lining or ulcer and should consult a physician if considering the use of arginine.

Arginine and Potassium

Because arginine may raise potassium levels, those who have kidney disease, liver disease or take drugs that raise potassium have cause for concern. The kidneys filter the blood, and all excess waste is released from the body as urine. When dysfunctional and unable to get rid of excess potassium, potassium levels just continue to elevate, and taking arginine will raise potassium levels even more. This could also happen to those with poorly managed diabetes that has affected kidney function. Diuretics, or water pills, and ACE inhibitors block the release of potassium from the body, causing the levels to elevate. Since these drugs are commonly prescribed for hypertension and heart disease, those who have those conditions should consult with a physician before taking arginine.

According to Dr. Palmer, amino acid supplements such as arginine, which are the building blocks of protein, increase the amount of protein in the body. This requires hard work from the liver and kidneys to digest. A diseased liver or kidneys may have difficulty working harder than normal. In addition, extra fluids are required to digest excess protein, which can lead to dehydration or too little fluid in the body. Arginine supplements are not regulated by the FDA and may contain other substances that can be dangerous to the body.

Viral Replication

According to Dr. Bratman, arginine stimulates viral outbreaks. So if someone is prone to cold sores or genital herpes, chances of an outbreak may increase. Cold sores and genital herpes are caused by the same Herpes simplex virus, and are characterized by painful, blister-like lesions around the mouth and in the genitals with a burning, tingling sensation. They usually dry up, develop a scab after a few days and go away, remaining inactive for short or long periods of time.

Vasodilator

Arginine is a vasodilator and acts to dilate blood vessels, an effect that can be dangerous when it is taken with drugs or supplements that also act as vasodilators. Taking arginine with nitroglycerin, a drug for angina pain, Viagra or any other vasodilator may cause a serious drug interaction. Once again, this is also a warning for those with hypertension and heart disease, who are often prescribed vasodilators, to avoid arginine.