Hormones in the body, including prolactin, depend on amino acids and other nutrients for proper functioning. Prolactin levels can fluctuate, and arginine may be able to help stabilize prolactin levels. Before using arginine for this reason, talk with your doctor about whether your prolactin levels are normal, and if arginine supplements are safe and appropriate for you.
Arginine
Arginine, also called L-arginine, is an amino acid that is termed a semi-essential amino acid, reports MayoClinic.com. This is because the body typically produces the amount of arginine needed, but sometimes supplementation is necessary. Arginine helps the body produce urea, which helps clear wastes from the body; it also helps make creatine. Arginine develops into nitric oxide, which causes your blood vessels to relax, and it may have positive effects on conditions such as chest pain, coronary disease and erectile dysfunction, according to MayoClinic.com.
Prolactin
Prolactin is a hormone produced from the pituitary gland. In women, this hormone helps encourage development of breasts and stimulates milk production; there is no known function in men, states MedlinePlus. Normal levels of prolactin can fluctuate because of medications, stress levels, hypothyroidism, kidney disease or trauma to the chest wall. Prolactin levels are typically tested to help determine if there is a pituitary tumor, causes of infertility or irregular periods, or for impotence.
Effects on Prolactin
According to the results of a study published in September 1994 in "Clinical Endocrinology," arginine encourages secretion of prolactin, but this response is impaired in patients with hyperthyroidism. Results of another study, published in the "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology" in March 2000, found that arginine was involved in the cascade of chemical reactions leading to the regulation of prolactin secretion. Newer and more thorough studies need to be done to establish a more definitive relationship between arginine and prolactin. Talk with your doctor about whether your prolactin levels are normal, and if arginine supplementation is appropriate.
Considerations
Arginine can cause side effects such as stomach upset, low blood pressure and changes in electrolytes and chemicals in the blood, according to MayoClinic.com. Before considering arginine for your prolactin levels, talk with your doctor about your concerns and possible reasons for abnormal prolactin levels. Arginine may not be the solution for you. Pregnant women and those who are breast-feeding should not take arginine because there is not enough evidence that it is safe in these populations.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Arginine (L-Arginine); July 2011
- MedlinePlus; Prolactin; Ari S. Eckman, M.D.; October 2009
- "Clinical Endocrinology"; Impaired Prolactin Response to Arginine in Patients with Hyperthyroidism; E. Ciccarelli, et al.; September 1994
- "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology"; The Effects of L-Arginine on the Release of Prolactin from Desidual Explants in Vitro; Meena Kumari, Ph.D., and Linda Heffner, M.D., Ph.D.; March 2000
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