Overview

What is arginine?

What are arginine’s main benefits?

What are arginine’s main drawbacks?

How does arginine work?

Dosage information

The standard preworkout dose for arginine is 3–6 grams.

Taking more than 10 grams of arginine at once can result in gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea, but it is possible to maintain elevated arginine levels throughout the day by taking three spaced doses (15–18 grams/day). However, citrulline supplementation is more effective at maintaining elevated arginine levels for long periods of time.

Examine Database: Arginine

Show Conditions

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
General Cardiovascular Health	13 Outcomes	79 Studies
High Cholesterol	6 Outcomes	62 Studies
Dyslipidemia	6 Outcomes	62 Studies
Type 2 Diabetes	14 Outcomes	14 Studies
General Athletic Performance	9 Outcomes	13 Studies
Cycling Performance	12 Outcomes	12 Studies
Metabolic Health	10 Outcomes	12 Studies
Peripheral Arterial Disease	9 Outcomes	9 Studies
Muscle Size & Strength	5 Outcomes	6 Studies
Obesity	5 Outcomes	5 Studies
Anaerobic Exercise Performance	3 Outcomes	3 Studies
Intermittent Claudication	3 Outcomes	3 Studies
Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease	3 Outcomes	3 Studies
Healthy Muscle Aging	1 Outcome	2 Studies

General Cardiovascular Health

13 Outcomes

79 Studies

High Cholesterol

6 Outcomes

62 Studies

Dyslipidemia

6 Outcomes

62 Studies

Type 2 Diabetes

14 Outcomes

14 Studies

General Athletic Performance

9 Outcomes

13 Studies

Cycling Performance

12 Outcomes

12 Studies

Metabolic Health

10 Outcomes

12 Studies

Peripheral Arterial Disease

9 Outcomes

9 Studies

Muscle Size & Strength

5 Outcomes

6 Studies

Obesity

5 Outcomes

5 Studies

Anaerobic Exercise Performance

3 Outcomes

3 Studies

Intermittent Claudication

3 Outcomes

3 Studies

Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

3 Outcomes

3 Studies

Healthy Muscle Aging

1 Outcome

2 Studies

General Cardiovascular Health

High Cholesterol

Dyslipidemia

Type 2 Diabetes

General Athletic Performance

Cycling Performance

Metabolic Health

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Muscle Size & Strength

Obesity

Anaerobic Exercise Performance

Intermittent Claudication

Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

Healthy Muscle Aging

Research FeedRead all studies

Preexercise carbohydrate intake doesn’t always improve cycling performance

In this randomized crossover trial in 12 male endurance athletes (average age of 34), drinking a carbohydrate-containing beverage (with or without other preworkout supplements) before a cycling test did not improve performance.

Can IV arginine help with sickle cell pain crises?

L-arginine and vitamin C for managing COPD-related symptoms

Which supplements are effective for swimmers?

Does preworkout arginine lead to greater resistance-training gains?

Frequently asked questions

What are other names for Arginine?

Update History

Small database additions
minor

Research written by

Thomas Solomon

Reviewed by

Nick Milazzo

Research Breakdown

References

Examine Database References

Blood glucose - Monti LD, Setola E, Lucotti PC, Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Comola M, Galluccio E, Poggi A, Mammì S, Catapano AL, Comi G, Chiesa R, Bosi E, Piatti PMEffect of a long-term oral l-arginine supplementation on glucose metabolism: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialDiabetes Obes Metab.(2012 Oct)
Nitric Oxide - Lucotti P, Setola E, Monti LD, Galluccio E, Costa S, Sandoli EP, Fermo I, Rabaiotti G, Gatti R, Piatti PBeneficial effects of a long-term oral L-arginine treatment added to a hypocaloric diet and exercise training program in obese, insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic patientsAm J Physiol Endocrinol Metab.(2006 Nov)
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Jabłecka A, Bogdański P, Balcer N, Cieślewicz A, Skołuda A, Musialik KThe effect of oral L-arginine supplementation on fasting glucose, HbA1c, nitric oxide and total antioxidant status in diabetic patients with atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease of lower extremitiesEur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.(2012 Mar)
Insulin - Isidori A, Lo Monaco A, Cappa MA study of growth hormone release in man after oral administration of amino acidsCurr Med Res Opin.(1981)
Growth Hormone - Collier SR, Casey DP, Kanaley JAGrowth hormone responses to varying doses of oral arginineGrowth Horm IGF Res.(2005 Apr)
Nitric Oxide - Liu TH, Wu CL, Chiang CW, Lo YW, Tseng HF, Chang CKNo effect of short-term arginine supplementation on nitric oxide production, metabolism and performance in intermittent exercise in athletesJ Nutr Biochem.(2009 Jun)
Plasma Arginine - Wilson AM, Harada R, Nair N, Balasubramanian N, Cooke JPL-arginine supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: no benefit and possible harmCirculation.(2007 Jul 10)
Nitric Oxide - Willoughby DS, Boucher T, Reid J, Skelton G, Clark MEffects of 7 days of arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation on blood flow, plasma L-arginine, nitric oxide metabolites, and asymmetric dimethyl arginine after resistance exerciseInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2011 Aug)
Nitric Oxide - Schwedhelm E, Maas R, Freese R, Jung D, Lukacs Z, Jambrecina A, Spickler W, Schulze F, Böger RHPharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: impact on nitric oxide metabolismBr J Clin Pharmacol.(2008 Jan)
Endothelial Function - Fahs CA, Heffernan KS, Fernhall BHemodynamic and vascular response to resistance exercise with L-arginineMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2009 Apr)
Plasma Arginine - Bode-Böger SM, Böger RH, Galland A, Tsikas D, Frölich JCL-arginine-induced vasodilation in healthy humans: pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationshipBr J Clin Pharmacol.(1998 Nov)
Triglycerides - Sepandi M, Abbaszadeh S, Qobady S, Taghdir MEffect of L-Arginine supplementation on lipid profiles and inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Pharmacol Res.(2019-Oct)
Nitric Oxide - Stephen J. Bailey, Paul G. Winyard, Anni Vanhatalo, Jamie R. Blackwell, Fred J. DiMenna, Daryl Paul Wilkerson, and Andrew M. JonesAcute L-arginine supplementation reduces the O2 cost of moderate-intensity exercise and enhances high-intensity exercise toleranceJournal of Applied Physiology.()
Growth Hormone - Marcell TJ, Taaffe DR, Hawkins SA, Tarpenning KM, Pyka G, Kohlmeier L, Wiswell RA, Marcus ROral arginine does not stimulate basal or augment exercise-induced GH secretion in either young or old adultsJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.(1999 Aug)
Heart Rate - Wax B, Kavazis AN, Webb HE, Brown SPAcute L-arginine alpha ketoglutarate supplementation fails to improve muscular performance in resistance trained and untrained menJ Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2012 Apr 17)
Blood Flow - Böger RH, Bode-Böger SM, Thiele W, Creutzig A, Alexander K, Frölich JCRestoring vascular nitric oxide formation by L-arginine improves the symptoms of intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive diseaseJ Am Coll Cardiol.(1998 Nov)
Growth Hormone - Abel T, Knechtle B, Perret C, Eser P, von Arx P, Knecht HInfluence of chronic supplementation of arginine aspartate in endurance athletes on performance and substrate metabolism - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyInt J Sports Med.(2005 Jun)
Total cholesterol - Hadi A, Arab A, Moradi S, Pantovic A, Clark CCT, Ghaedi EThe effect of l-arginine supplementation on lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Br J Nutr.(2019-Nov-14)

Arginine

Overview

What is arginine?

What are arginine’s main benefits?

What are arginine’s main drawbacks?

How does arginine work?

Dosage informationMedical disclaimer

Examine Database: Arginine

Research FeedRead all studies

Frequently asked questions

What are other names for Arginine?

Update History

Small database additionsminor

Research Breakdown

References

Examine Database References

Research FeedRead all studies

Examine Database References

Examine Database: Arginine

Dosage information

Small database additions
minor