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What is
Arginine?
Arginine is a protein amino
acid present in the proteins of all life forms. It is
classified as a semi-essential or conditionally essential
amino acid. This means that under normal circumstances the
body can synthesize sufficient Arginine to meet
physiological demands. Even so, Arginine is often classed as
one of the 10 essential amino acids, it is usually
considered essential to the diet of children for the
maintenance of normal rates of growth.
What Does in the Body?
Arginine plays an important
role in cell division, the healing of wounds, removing
ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of
hormones. Arginine, is an immune system enhancer. It
stimulates the thymus gland, boosts white blood cell
production and stimulates release of growth hormone.
Arginine increases immune
function by increasing natural killer cell activity, it also
increase circulation, important for the secretion of insulin
and glucagon. Reduce plaque accumulation in the
arteries.
Where is it found?
Food source of Arginine are: Dairy products, fish, beans,
turkey and wheat germ. Many nuts and
chocolate also contain significant amounts of Arginine.
Symptoms of Deficiency/Side Effects
Arginine has so far appeared to be free of obvious side
effects.
The most common adverse reactions of higher doses are
nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. However if
administered too rapidly, flushing, nausea, vomiting,
numbness, headache and local venous irritation may occur.
Deficiency
produces symptoms of muscle weakness, similar to muscular
dystrophy. Arginine-deficiency impairs insulin production,
glucose production, and liver lipid metabolism. Arginine
deficiency is also associated with rash, hair loss and hair
breakage, poor wound healing, constipation, fatty liver,
hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatic coma. |
