Arginine

What is Arginine?

Arginine, also known as L-Arginine HCL, is a dietary and sports supplement ingredient that may help improve cognition (e.g. verbal memory) in the aged.

Arginine is an amino acid that can be taken as a supplement. It has been used for infertility and erectile problems, chest pain (angina), heart diseases, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), lack of growth hormone, preventing blood clots, high blood pressure, frequent urinary tract infections, migraine headache, to assist in weight loss, diabetes, and to increase the body's ability to fight disease.

It is an amino acid that basically works to improve your body’s immune strength. As with all other ingredients, you should always speak to your medical practitioner to find out if it is good for you.

Side Effects and Warnings of Arginine

All foreign chemicals added to your body can cause side effects and Arginine is not any different. You should not take Arginine without talking to your doctor first if you are taking:

• Water pills (diuretics, examples: Aldactone(R) spironolactone, amiloride (Midamor(R)), triamterene (Dyazide(R), Maxzide (R), Dyrenium(R))
• Estrogen (examples: conjugated estrogens (Premarin(R)), estradiol (Estrace(R)), ethinyl estradiol).

You should also avoid Arginine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have diabetes, kidney or liver disease, Arginine products should only be taken after you have consulted your medical practitioner.

Though Arginine has proven to be a great ingredient in many sports supplements, it does have some side effects for some users. You should stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Arginine may be causing these symptoms, which may mean you are allergic to it.

• Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
• Chest pain
• Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin

Though these are the main allergic reactions to Arginine, you should also be aware of other side effects that are caused by taking a sports supplement containing Arginine:

• Taking Arginine may increase the amount of Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks
• For some users, large doses of Arginine can cause diarrhoea,
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), bloating, stomach cramps, and throwing up have been reported by some Arginine users,
• You may experience low blood pressure
• Some users have reported cases of Headache and numbness, and
• You may experience swelling in your legs especially if you take too much Arginine.

Arginine is still a safe supplement ingredient and that is one of the main reasons that is used in many of these products.

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