L-arginine is a chemical that was first discovered in 1886. It was later found to be critical to your body's production of urea, a waste chemical used to removed toxic ammonia from the body through excrement. L-arginine is also used to form creatine, a compound broken down and turned into waste by the kidneys. While most people's bodies have enough L-arginine naturally, some do require supplementation. Additionally, the chemical has been discovered to have other uses.
Growth Hormone Testing
According to MedlinePlus, L-arginine is useful in measuring the growth hormone levels of people who might have deficiencies, such as children, individuals with stunted growth or those suffering other problems like gigantism and acromegaly. The chemical is injected into the body of the individual being tested. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved this treatment as a beneficial and veritable method of measuring growth hormone levels.
Urea Synthesis Problems
While most people have no problem producing suitable levels of urea in their bodies, some individuals require supplementation. Insufficient levels of urea can lead to high levels of ammonia in the blood, which can cause a condition known as metabolism alkalosis. Taking L-arginine supplements can help change how the body processes nitrogen, which can correct the urea deficiency, according to MedlinePlus. Supplementation of L-arginine should not be done in individuals already taking some drugs, such as citrulline, sodium benzoate and sodium phenylbutyrate. Because dialysis may be required for the initial supplementation of L-arginine, a medical professional is required to administer the chemical.
Heart Disease and Angina
L-arginine can be taken either orally or by injection to improve the blood flow through the heart's arteries. Exercise tolerance may also be improved, and some benefit to the chest pain known as angina has also been identified. Individuals experiencing heart failure have experienced mixed benefits from taking the chemical as a supplement. More research is needed to determine proper dosage levels.
Claudication
Claudication is a condition in which leg pain and fatigue develop due to cholesterol plaques and/or clots that restrict blood flow in the arteries of the leg. According to MedlinePlus, there are multiple studies that have suggested therapy using arginine may improve your ability to walk distances with claudication. However, further research is needed to confirm this benefit.
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