Have you ever heard of arginine acid? Do you know what its benefits and uses? There is no need to wonder more, learn from the following article the most important things to know about this acid, its importance, how it is used, its potential harm, and other important and useful information.

What is arginine?

Arginine is an amino acid that helps the body build protein that the body uses to build muscles and repair tissues. It also helps release nitric oxide into the blood, which in turn helps dilate blood vessels and release insulin into the blood.

The body produces arginine naturally under certain conditions, or it can be obtained additionally as part of the diet. Include Food sources that contain arginine the following:

• Red meat.
• fish.
• Dairy products.
• eggs.
• pumpkin seeds.
• soybean.
• lentils;
• chickpeas;

In many cases, a person may need a larger amount of this acid, compared to what the body produces, especially in the elderly who suffer from some health problems, so the doctor may prescribe the synthetic form of this acid, arginine supplementHowever, these supplements should be handled with caution.

arginine benefits

As we mentioned earlier, this acid helps or turns nitric oxide and helps in building protein, and therefore it has some benefits, including the following:

1. Heart health support.
2. Reduce chest pain.
3. One of the benefits of arginine for bodybuilding is that it helps build muscle.
4. wound healing.
5. Growth hormone test, where experts use arginine to stimulate the pituitary gland, where this test is used to find out whether children are producing sufficient levels of growth hormone or not, and this is one of the most famous benefits of arginine for children.
6. Lowering high blood pressure.
7. Correction of genetic disorders related to the production and formation of urea.
8. Heart disease prevention.
9. Reducing gastrointestinal infections in newborns.
10. Reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
11. Peripheral artery disease treatment.
12. Improve athletic performance. L-arginine supplementation can help improve aerobic and anaerobic exercise.

arginine benefits for men

Arginine is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, as some studies have found a relationship between low levels of this acid in the body and the incidence of erectile dysfunction in men, and this may be due to narrow blood vessels, and sometimes arginine supplements are used with other drugs to expand the vessels and treat erectile dysfunction. Some studies also suggest that it can help improve fertility in men.

It is worth noting that many of these benefits still need more studies and proofs, so it is best to consult your doctor first before using this acid supplement.

arginine benefits for women

This acid is used for pregnant women in certain circumstances and conditions such as, pre-eclampsia, where arginine supplementation is prescribed to pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia or pre-eclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction.

There is some evidence that these supplements can improve the final outcome of pregnancy, as well as the health of the fetus and mother. The importance of this acid in pregnancy is due to the increased need of the body during pregnancy as a result of the development and growth of the fetus during pregnancy.

There is no indication that these supplements are safe to use while breastfeeding, so it is advised not to use these supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding without consulting your doctor first.

How to use arginine

The amount of arginine that a person needs depends on the age, health condition, and the reason for the need to use or replace this acid in the body, and according to a study conducted in 2018, a dose of 30 grams per day is considered an appropriate dose for most adults, but high doses are usually used in experiments. And studies, it is therefore recommended that the daily dose of arginine not exceed 9 grams per day, to avoid any digestive side effects such as nausea, diarrhea or bloating.

This acid is used like other types of amino acids, so it is recommended to use it between meals to reduce the total absorption of the acid in the body.

When does the effect of arginine begin?

This depends on why arginine is used in the first place and the type of amino acid used. It usually takes at least 24 hours for the acid to be absorbed into the body, and in some cases, to see the full benefits and efficacy, it may take 3 months.

arginine side effects

Some of the side effects that may occur when taking L-arginine supplements include:

• nausea;
• diarrhea.
• feeling bloated
• Abdominal pain.

There may also be some serious health complications that should be watched for, such as:

• Reduction of Blood pressure.
• Increased risk of death from a heart attack.
• Possible kidney damage, especially when the supplement is used for long periods.
• Increase the likelihood of stimulating the growth of tumors.

This acid can also interact with the following medications, so be careful:

• Medications to lower high blood pressure.
• Erectile dysfunction medication.
• Blood clotting medications.
• Anti-diabetic drugs.
• Medications to increase blood flow.
• diuretics;

L-arginine can also interact with herbs and herbal supplements, so you should tell your doctor a list of everything you are taking before using this acid in any form.