L-arginine supplementation enhances exhaled NO, breath condensate VEGF, and headache at 4,342 m.
We examined the effect of dietary supplementation with L-arginine on breath condensate VEGF, exhaled nitric oxide (NO), plasma erythropoietin, symptoms of acute mountain sickness, and respiratory related sensations at 4,342 m through the course of 24 h in seven healthy male subjects. Serum L-arginine levels increased in treated subjects at time 0, 8, and 24 h compared with placebo, indicating the effectiveness of our treatment. L-arginine had no significant effect on overall Lake Louise scores compared with placebo. However, there was a significant increase in headache within the L-arginine treatment group at 12 h compared with time 0, a change not seen in the placebo condition between these two time points. There was a trend (p = 0.087) toward greater exhaled NO and significant increases in breath condensate VEGF with L-arginine treatment, but no L-arginine effect on serum EPO. These results suggest that L-arginine supplementation increases HIF-1 stabilization in the lung, possibly through a NO-dependent pathway. In total, our observations indicate that L-arginine supplementation is not beneficial in the prophylactic treatment of AMS.
Mansoor
Jim K
JK
University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, USA.
Morrissey
Brian M
BM
Walby
William F
WF
Yoneda
Ken Y
KY
Juarez
Maya
M
Kajekar
Radhika
R
Severinghaus
John W
JW
Eldridge
Marlowe W
MW
Schelegle
Edward S
ES
D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine