An essential amino acid that is physiologically active in the L-form.
A basic amino acid. Not a dietary essential for adults, but infants may not be able to synthesise enough to meet the high demands of growth.
An amino acid, commonly abbreviated arg. In dry, bulk form arginine is colorless, crystalline, and water soluble. It is an essential amino acid of the α-ketoglutaric acid family.
Organic compound found in animal proteins.
An amino acid which helps the liver form urea.
An essential amino acid for growing animals. Precursor of nitric oxide, a vasoactive compound; precursor of urea in the urea cycle.
Arginine is a dibasic, nonessential amino acid. Oral arginine supplements are often marketed as enhancers of human growth hormone, which appears to exert its anabolic effects through insulin-like growth factor-1 (IFG-1). Interestingly, research does not support a role of elevations in growth hormone with increases in lean body mass or strength in individuals with previously normal levels of growth hormone. Additionally, most well-controlled studies do not support a role for oral arginine supplementation in enhancing growth hormone concentrations. Although a few studies have detected an increase in concentration of growth hormone, they have not successfully linked this shift to enhanced lean body mass or strength. In many studies, arginine has been fed in combination with other amino acids including lysine, ornithine, and glutamate with similar results to supplementation with arginine alone. In some cases, studies have attempted to determine if arginine alone or in combination with other amino acids can enhance the typical elevation in growth hormone observed with a bout of exercise. The results of these studies have not supported a growth hormone-enhancing effect.
Nonessential (produced by the body, not required in the diet) amino acid.
A crystalline basic amino acid, C6H14N402, obtained from the decomposition of vegetable tissues, protamines, and proteins. It is a guanidine derivative, yielding urea and ornithine on hydrolysis. It may also be produced synthetically. Dietary supplementation with arginine is used to treat urea cycle disorders.