L-Arginine

The amino acid arginine has several roles in the organism. Arginine can assist with wound healing, help remove ammonia from the body, promote immune activity, and support the secretion of several hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone.

Arginine increases protein synthesis, which can lead to cellular replication. For this reason, it is believed arginine may help people with inadequate numbers of certain cells. For example, a few studies have found that men with low sperm count experienced an increase in the number of sperm with arginine consumption.

Arginine may also increase protein synthesis while improving wound healing. This effect has been shown in both animals and humans with high intake (17 grams per day).

Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide, which the body uses to keep blood vessels dilated, allowing the heart to receive appropriate levels of oxygen. Clinicians have started using arginine with people experiencing angina and congestive heart failure.

A few studies have shown evidence that arginine may also help regulate cholesterol levels and appears to act as a natural blood thinner by reducing platelet aggregation.