Abstract

Purpose: L-arginine supplementation has been tested as a treatment for various conditions related to cardiovascular disease, but with mixed results. This article reviews the research findings related to the effects of L-arginine supplementation on the cardiovascular system of individuals with cardiovascular disease and related disorders.

Design/methodology/approach: Research and review articles were identified through the search engines Google Scholar, PubMed and ScienceDirect. Main key words included L-arginine, supplementation, nitric oxide, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, endothelia dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and exercise capacity.

Findings: Supplementation of L-arginine for short periods of time has been found useful in treating cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease and type 2 diabetes, but efficacy requires very high daily dosages ranging from 6 to 24g per day. However, prolonged supplementation with L-arginine generally has not been found to effectively treat cardiovascular related abnormalities, and under some conditions it has been found to be harmful.

Originality: This review provides insight into the efficacy of using L-arginine as a treatment for cardiovascular disease and related abnormalities. While short-term supplementation appears to provide some beneficial effects, its long-term use is highly questionable and could have adverse consequences. Therefore, careful consideration should be given before using L-arginine as a supplement to treat cardiovascular related diseases.

Keywords: L-arginine; Nitric oxide; Cardiovascular disease; Atherosclerosis; Endothelial dysfunction; Hypertension; Exercise