The gas nitric oxide, also known as nitrogen monoxide, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NO. Nitric oxide is made from one atom of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen. The amino acid L- arginine can be found in red meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and as a supplement. A health-care professional should always be consulted before taking a supplement of L-arginine.
L-Arginine
L-arginine is necessary for the body to make proteins and to create urea, a waste product that is needed to remove the toxic substance ammonia from the body. L-arginine is also needed to make creatine, an important substance that help to supply energy to cells. Creatine breaks down into creatinine, and it is cleared from the body by the kidneys. L-arginine is considered a semi-essential amino acid, and although most people get enough of this amino acid from their diets, according to the Mayo Clinic, people with certain health conditions, such as excessive ammonia production, protein malnutrition, infections, burns or sepsis, may need to supplement with extra L-arginine. Symptoms of L-arginine deficiency include hair loss, skin rash, poor wound-healing, constipation and fatty liver.
Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide causes the smooth muscles around blood vessels to relax, resulting in the widening of the blood vessels, also called vasodilatation, which helps to increase blood flow. Nitric oxide helps the transmitting of messages between nerve cells and plays an important role in the immune system.
L-Arginine and Nitric Oxide
According to MayoClinic.com, L-arginine changes into nitric oxide in the body. L-arginine may therefore be useful for treating medical conditions that improve with vasodilatation, such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, erectile dysfunction, intermittent claudication, chest pain and clogged arteries. Drugs.com recommends an oral dosage of 6 to 30 g of L-arginine daily.
Considerations
According to MedlinePlus, L-arginine can cause side effects such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, allergies, airway inflammation, worsening of asthma and low blood pressure. If you suffer from allergies, asthma, low blood pressure or herpes, have recently had a heart attack or are on high blood pressure medications, such as captopril and enalapril, you should consult a health-care professional before taking a L-arginine supplement. There is some concern that L-arginine may interfere with blood pressure control during and after surgery; therefore, MedlinePlus recommends that you stop taking L-arginine at least two weeks before surgery.
Member Comments