title: Effect of L-arginine or L-citrulline oral supplementation on blood pressure and right ventricular function in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of L-arginine and L-citrulline on blood pressure and right ventricular function in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown. We have therefore evaluated, in a randomized clinical trial, the effect of these aminoacids in chronic outstanding and stable patients with HFpEF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients underwent an echocardiogram and radioisotopic ventriculography rest/exercise, and were randomized in a consecutive manner to the L-arginine group (n = 15; 8 g/day); and the citrulline malate group (n = 15; 3 g/day). The duration of follow-up was two months. The principal echocardiographic finding was a statistically significant decrease in pulmonary artery pressure in the L-arginine (56.3 ± 10 vs 44 ± 16.5 mm Hg, p < 0.05) and the citrulline (56.67 ± 7.96 vs 47.67 ± 8.59 mm Hg, p < 0.05) groups. Duration on treadmill and right ventricular ejection fraction post exercise increased, while diastolic and systolic artery pressure decreased significantly in both groups. There were no other statistically significant differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of L-arginine and citrulline to patients with HFpEF improved right ventricular function by increasing right ventricular ejection fraction, and probably decreasing systolic pulmonary artery pressure.
authors.affiliation: Heart Failure Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Orozco-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castillo-Martínez
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orea-Tejeda
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Díaz
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valdespino-Trejo
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Narváez-David
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keirns-Davis
authors.forename: Olín
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carrasco-Ortiz
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro-Navarro
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Santillán
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002956:Citrulline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002956:Citrulline; D001120:Arginine