Low-dose dietary L-arginine increases plasma interleukin 1 alpha but not interleukin 1 beta in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Oral high-dose arginine supplementation is used for the experimental immunotherapy of tissue trauma and sepsis. Yet the adequate dosage required for immunomodulation has to be established and the toxicity of high-dose arginine has not been fully elucidated. Following a protocol for the treatment of diabetic long-term complications (oral daily doses of 30 mg/kg BW; blind, placebo-controlled prospective study with crossing-over design) we studied plasma levels of interleukins 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and 1 beta reflecting immunostimulation. Arginine supplementation in 29 patients with diabetes mellitus prompted a 2-fold increase of IL-1 alpha from baseline levels (P < 0.001) while IL-1 beta was unaffected. Implications for the treated panel of diabetic patients could be a reduction of collagen accumulation by enhanced collagenolysis and clearance of advanced-stage non-enzymatic glycosylation products. Based upon our data, low-dose arginine protocols for further immunotherapeutical studies should be discussed.
Hayde
M
M
Department of Paediatrics, University of Vienna, Austria.
Vierhapper
H
H
Lubec
B
B
Popow
C
C
Weninger
M
M
Xi
Z
Z
Lubec
G
G
D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001120:Arginine; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019270:Fructosamine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006595:Hexosamines; D007375:Interleukin-1