Oral L-arginine supplementation in patients with mild arterial hypertension and
its effect on plasma level of asymmetric dimethylarginine, L-citruline,
L-arginine and antioxidant status.
Author(s): Jabecka A, Ast J, Bogdaski P, Drozdowski M, Pawlak-Lemaska K, Cielewicz AR,
Pupek-Musialik D.
Affiliation(s): Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical
Sciences in Poznan, Poland.
Publication date & source: 2012, Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. , 16(12):1665-74
BACKGROUND: Potential role of L-arginine supplementation as a new effective
strategy of improving endothelial function in patients with hypertension is
recently under consideration.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate influence of 28-day oral supplementation of L-arginine on
plasma level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), L-citrulline, L-arginine and
total antioxidant status (TAS), in patients with mild arterial hypertension.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 54 participants (24 women and 30 men) were studied.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was used for allotting patients to
either healthy control group (19 subjects) or hypertensive treatment group (35
patients). Patients were later randomized to either L-arginine (2 g tid or 4 g
tid) or placebo. During 28 days of study on 5 consecutive visits TAS, plasma
level of ADMA, L-citrulline, and L-arginine were measured.
RESULTS: In patients with mild hypertension treated with L-arginine significant
increase in TAS and plasma level of arginine and citrulline was observed.
Additionally plasma ADMA concentrations after 28 days of L-arginine
supplementation significantly exceeded initial concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS: L-arginine supplementation increases plasma arginine, citrulline and
TAS in patients with mild arterial hypertension. It confirms the thesis that
augmented concentrations of L-arginine stimulate NO biosynthesis which leads to
reduction of oxidative stress. Increase of ADMA plasma level after L-arginine
supplementation confirms correlation between ADMA and L-arginine.
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