Although the range of pharmaceutical drugs available to treat heart disease is vast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to list it as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. In an ongoing quest to find natural solutions to treat and possibly reverse symptoms of heart disease, scientists are looking to amino acids found naturally in plants and animals. Three amino acids that appear to influence heart health are arginine, taurine and carnitine.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which makes up muscle and other body tissue. At least 20 amino acids have been identified, 11 of which are made by your body's cells and called "nonessential" and nine of which must be derived from foods and are called "essential." In addition to protein synthesis, individual amino acids or combinations of amino acids play a variety of roles in cellular metabolism. Although supplements for individual amino acids are available, they should not be taken without a physician's prescription. Dietary sources include nuts, seeds, chocolate, meat, fish and dairy.
Arginine
L-arginine, or arginine, is considered a semiessential amino acid because, although most people produce enough, it is possible to become deficient. Arginine plays an important role in the healing of wounds, in muscle growth and in fetal and child development. According to the Mayo Clinic, arginine turns into nitric oxide in the body and causes vasodilation, a relaxing of arterial walls that facilitates blood flow. Arginine also impedes blood clots. These properties make arginine of interest as a treatment for chest pain, clogged arteries, coronary artery disease and heart failure.
Taurine
Taurine is a nonessential amino acid, meaning your body can make it. Taurine contains sulfur, an antioxidant mineral. In a Canadian review of research published in the summer 2008 issue of "Experimental and Clinical Cardiology," scientists looked at taurine's impact on cardiovascular health. They concluded that taurine helps the cardiovascular system through an improved cholesterol profile, modulation of calcium, antioxidant effects and other mechanisms. The authors of the review caution that pregnant women should not supplement with taurine because it has been shown in a study to increase insulin resistance and obesity in the offspring of laboratory rats.
Carnitine
L-carnitine, or carnitine, is a nonessential amino acid that is made in the liver and kidneys and stored in the heart, muscles, brain and sperm. Carnitine works to help turn fat into energy. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, carnitine's ability to reduce oxidative stress makes it of interest in the treatment of heart disease, including angina, heart attack, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. Although carnitine is a nonessential amino acid, it is a derivative of the essential amino acid lysine.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Arginine (L-arginine); July 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Carnitine (L-carnitine); March 2009
- "Cellular Health Series: Cancer"; Matthias Rath, M.D., February 2001
- "Experimental and Clinical Cardiology"; The Potential Health Benefits of Taurine in Cardiovascular Disease; Yan-Jun Xu, M.D., et al.; summer 2008
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Leading Causes of Death; May 2011
- Linus Pauling Institute; L-Carnitine; April 2007
