Thomas Chan started taking L-arginine supplements after learning that it could help his high blood pressure problem. Six months on, Chan (name changed for patient confidentiality), 59, says his blood pressure has improved to below 120/80. He also no longer feels tired when he exercises.
'After doing my own research on the benefits of L-arginine, I decided to purchase it online,' says Chan. 'I take the full dose daily, and so far I haven't experienced any negative side effects. I also take prescription drugs to control my blood pressure and cholesterol.'
In recent years, L-arginine supplements have become popular with people wanting to maintain their cardiovascular health. Dr Benita Perch, a naturopathic physician with the Integrated Medicine Institute in Central, says she has noticed the trend among athletes.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid, which is a kind of protein. It is found naturally in protein-rich foods such as beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish, nuts, legumes, seeds, brown rice and dairy products.
According to Charmain Tan, a registered dietitian at Seventeen Nutrition Consultants in Hong Kong, as long as your diet contains sufficient protein, your body is normally able to make enough arginine. However, in some cases, supplementation might be needed.
Scott Forbes, a doctoral student in exercise physiology at the University of Alberta in Canada, says the supplement is popular among athletes for two reasons: 'First, L-arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide, which is known to improve blood flow, which in turn may aid the delivery of important nutrients to working muscles and assist with metabolic waste product removal. Second, L-arginine has been shown to increase growth hormone levels in the blood.'
