High blood pressure increases the risk for kidney damage, stroke and cardiovascular disease. It's usually treated with a low-sodium diet and medication. L-arginine, which is found in soy, nuts, watermelon and meat, can help lower blood pressure. Consult your health care provider if you decide to take L-arginine supplements.
L-Arginine
L-arginine, also called arginine, is a non-essential amino acid synthesized in the liver from the amino acid citrulline. In the body, L-arginine breaks down toxic ammonia to urea, which is then excreted in urine. In addition, L-arginine increases blood circulation and improves wound healing. The body makes enough L-arginine, but individuals with infections, burns and urea synthesis disorders may require L-arginine supplementation, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Mechanism
Increasing L-arginine supplementation helps lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide, a gas molecule that boosts blood flow by dilating blood vessels, according to researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine. This in turn decreases the pressure it takes for blood to circulate through artery walls. Scientists reported their findings in the October 2004 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition."
Preeclampsia
Scientists from Jagiellonian University School of Medicine in Poland investigated the effects of oral L-arginine supplementation on women with preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy. Participants received either 3g of L-arginine or a placebo per day for three weeks. Researchers reported in the January 2005 issue of the "European Journal of Clinical Investigation" that those in the L-arginine group experienced decreases in blood pressure compared with those in the placebo group.
Hypertensives
L-arginine might reduce blood pressure in hypertensives, according to a study performed by researchers from the Division of Clinical Cardiology in Italy. They discovered that hypertensive patients consuming 2g of L-arginine three times daily for four weeks experienced reductions in blood pressure, according to the April 2004 issue of the "American Journal of Cardiology."
References
- MayoClinic.com; Arginine (L-arginine); April 2011
- "Journal of Nutrition"; L-Arginine and Hypertension; Noyan Gokce; October 2004
- "European Journal of Clinical Investigation"; Effects of Prolonged Oral Supplementation with L-Arginine on Blood Pressure and Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Preeclampsia; K. Rytlewski et al.; January 2005
- "American Journal of Cardiology"; Effect of Oral L-Arginine on Blood Pressure and Symptoms and Endothelial Function in Patients with Systemic Hypertension, Positive Exercise Tests, and Normal Cornoary Arteries; A. Palloshi et al.; April 2004
