title: Vascular effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation.
abstract: The vascular endothelium is acknowledged to play an important role in vascular physiology. Attention has focused on endothelial production of nitric oxide as a key element in many of the processes associated with the development of atherosclerosis. L-arginine is the substrate for the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which is responsible for the endothelial production of nitric oxide. Therefore, many investigators have been interested in whether dietary L-arginine supplementation can augment nitric oxide production and thereby improve vascular health. The effects of oral L-arginine on vascular health and disease have been examined both in human beings and in various animal models. In this review, we summarize the results of studies of oral L-arginine supplementation on atherosclerotic lesion formation, as well as markers of endothelial function (e.g. macrophage function, platelet aggregation and adhesion, and in vitro vascular ring studies). Although results of oral L-arginine supplementation in hypercholesterolemic animals have generally shown beneficial effects, the data in humans are varied, possibly because of small sample sizes and brief periods of study. Long-term randomized clinical trials are needed to more definitively address whether oral L-arginine supplementation could be advantageous for vascular health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1045, USA.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Preli
authors.forename: Karen Potvin
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Herrington
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III