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Amino acids are considered essential if they must be consumed in the diet and non essential if they can be produced within the body. That is why arginine is considered conditionally essential. Most adults, unless suffering from certain rare genetic disorders, can synthesize sufficient arginine to meet the body’s demands, however infants and young children cannot produce arginine and since arginine is essential for the production and release of the growth hormone, they must receive the amino acid in dietary intake.
There are other conditions such as trauma (including surgery), and burns that can produce an increased demand within the body for the synthesis of arginine. Arginine is necessary for wound healing, probably because it plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen necessary for the production of new tissue and bone cells. If the body could not produce the necessary amount of arginine, healing time would take longer than under normal circumstances. The ability to synthesize non essential amino acids, including arginine can be effected by age, overall health, organ health, and stress,
During stress, the thymus gland usually shrinks, the production of lymphocytes (small white blood cells which are the body’s main defense against diseases) diminishes and sickness usually results. In autopsies of individuals who died after long illnesses, the gland is tiny and sometimes atrophied. Arginine is the key to maintaining the proper size of the gland to maintain the production of lymphocytes.
Arginine deficiencies can produce muscle weakness and impair insulin production among other things. Rapid growth, pregnancy, trauma, protein deficiency and malnutrition are conditions usually associated with deficiencies of arginine. Arginine deficiency is also frequently associated with skin rash, hair loss and breakage, poor wound healing and some liver conditions. This is not an area for self-diagnoses and requires the attention of a health practitioner to determine if there is an amino acid deficiency or if the symptoms are related to another cause.
Some studies have suggested that arginine is useful in the treatment of several diseases:
• Arthritis, because collagen is found in the connective tissue and arginine is a major player in the production of collagen
• Cancer Patients, arginine enhances the immune function and therefore may help to retard tumor growth.
• Liver Disorders, arginine helps in detoxifying the liver and may be of benefit in liver injury and other liver disorders.
• Body Building, and weight loss, arginine is reported to help in reducing body fat while increasing lean muscle. Some studies support the value of arginine supplementation for athletes.
• Fertility, seminal fluid contains a large amount of arginine and it may be helpful in treating sterility in men. It has been shown in combination with some other amino acids to have a positive effect on sperm viability and motility. It has also been noted as an aid to increased libido and a useful aid in treating erectile dysfunction.
Arginine may act as an anti-aging agent because it is involved in the production of many enzymes and hormones. The older adult responds to arginine with increased levels of glucose and growth hormone. The main source of energy for muscle and other cells is glucose. Glucose metabolism produces ammonia, a toxic substance. Arginine stimulates the enzyme that starts the cycle that converts ammonia into urea. Urea is cleansed from the body by the kidneys and excreted in urine.
Each individual has differing dietary needs depending on gender, age, and geographic location. There is no one size fits all for nutritional requirements. There is no known reason to increase consumption of dietary protein to increase circulating levels of amino acids, and since many protein rich foods are also rich in fats, it could cause unnecessary weight gain and cholesterol levels that are unhealthy.
Arginine is found in chocolate, whole grains (wheat, buckwheat, and oatmeal), dairy products, red meats, nuts (pecans, cashews, walnuts, etc), seafood, and soybeans. A balanced diet with enough calories to meet the guidelines for the size of the individual concerned should provide enough arginine as well as other nutrients for a healthy life.
Because arginine will boost the immune system it may seem like a solution to people suffering with ailments. It should not be used with out consultation with a health provider and should never be used by anyone suffering from an acute or chronic virus, such as Epstein-Barr, or Herpes Simplex I or II. It will speed up the rate of growth of the virus.
Arginine, as with most amino acids, has two forms, the L-form and the D-form. The L-form of amino acids is the most compatible with human body chemistry and is the only form discussed here.
