Anorexia nervosa: a role for L-arginine supplementation in cardiovascular risk factors?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a short-term oral L-arginine treatment on platelet NO production, intracellular calcium concentration, iNOS and eNOS expression, in AN patients.


METHODS
Forty outpatients belonging to restricting subtype and 40 normal participants age and sex matched were enrolled in the study.


RESULTS
NO production was significantly elevated in the platelets from AN patients compared with controls while [Ca(2+)](i) was significantly decreased in patients with respect to controls. Western blot analysis demonstrated that iNOS isoform was more pronounced in the cell lysates from AN patients than controls. After supplementation with L-arginine, both NO production and [Ca(2+)](i) seem to return to control levels, suggesting a probable recovery of their metabolisms. The same was found after western blot analysis of NOS expression.


CONCLUSIONS
The results here proposed can be considered highly indicative of a positive effect of L-arginine supplementation on platelet NO production in AN patients.
Vignini
Arianna
A
Department of Biochemistry, Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. vignini2@libero.it
D'Angelo
Monica
M
Nanetti
Laura
L
Camilloni
Maria Angela
MA
Cester
Anna Maria
AM
Faloia
Emanuela
E
Salvolini
Eleonora
E
Mazzanti
Laura
L
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D002118:Calcium