L-arginine as a nutritional prophylaxis against vascular endothelial dysfunction with aging.
With advancing age, peripheral conduit and resistance arteries lose the ability to effectively dilate owing to endothelial dysfunction. This vascular senescence contributes to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with aging. L-arginine plays a role in numerous physiological processes including nitrogen detoxification, immunocompetence, growth hormone (GH) secretion, and insulin secretion. Recently, a considerable amount of attention has been placed on the ability of this amino acid to affect vascular endothelial function. The purpose of this review will be to examine the use of L-arginine as a novel nutritional strategy to potentially stave progression of vascular dysfunction with aging and CVD. Emphasis will be placed on the ability of L-arginine to modulate the vascular inflammatory and systemic hormonal milieu, which in turn may have a positive effect on vascular endothelial function.
Heffernan
Kevin S
KS
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. KHeffernan@TuftsMedicalCenter.org
Fahs
Christopher A
CA
Ranadive
Sushant M
SM
Patvardhan
Eshan A
EA
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine