L-arginine is a precursor for nitrate biosynthesis in humans.
Nitrogen from L-arginine was incorporated into urinary nitrate in human subjects. Two subjects given an oral dose of [15N2]L-arginine excreted 24 and 17 umol [15N]nitrate/24 hr, respectively, in their urine in the 24 hr period following the dose. This work demonstrates that L-arginine, a nitrogen source for biosynthesized nitrate in cultured cells and research animals, is a precursor for endogenously synthesized nitrate in humans.
Division of Toxicology, Whitaker College, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.
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Wishnok
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Tannenbaum
D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D009566:Nitrates; D001120:Arginine