Increase in fasting vascular endothelial function after short-term oral L-arginine is effective when baseline flow-mediated dilation is low: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Previous trials suggest that oral l-arginine administration affects endothelial function. However, most of these studies were small, the conclusions were inconsistent, and the precise effects are therefore debatable.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to assess the effect of oral l-arginine supplementation on endothelial function, as measured with the use of fasting flow-mediated dilation (FMD).


METHODS
We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled l-arginine supplementation trials that evaluated endothelial function. Trials were identified in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, reviews, and reference lists of relevant papers. The weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated for net changes in FMD by using random-effect models. Previously defined subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore the influence of study characteristics.


RESULTS
Thirteen trials were included and evaluated. Because there was only one long-term study, we focused on short-term effects of l-arginine (12 studies, 492 participants). In an overall pooled estimate, l-arginine significantly increased FMD (WMD: 1.98%; 95% CI: 0.47, 3.48; P = 0.01). Meta-regression analysis indicated that the baseline FMD was inversely related to effect size (regression coefficient = -0.55; 95% CI: -1.00, -0.1; P = 0.016). A subgroup analysis suggested that l-arginine supplementation significantly increased FMD when the baseline FMD levels were <7% (WMD: 2.56%; 95% CI: 0.87, 4.25; P = 0.003), but had no effect on FMD when baseline FMD was >7% (WMD: -0.27%; 95% CI: -1.52, 0.97; P = 0.67).


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term oral l-arginine is effective at improving the fasting vascular endothelial function when the baseline FMD is low.
Bai
Yongyi
Y
Key Laboratory for Clinical Cardiovascular Genetics & Sino-German Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Institute & FuWai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Sun
Lan
L
Yang
Tao
T
Sun
Kai
K
Chen
Jingzhou
J
Hui
Rutai
R
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D001120:Arginine