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L-arginine is an amino acid naturally found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. It is necessary for making proteins and is commonly used for circulation.
L-arginine is converted in the body into a chemical called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to open wider for improved blood flow. L-arginine also stimulates the release of growth hormone, insulin, and other substances in the body. It can be made in a lab and used in supplements.
People use L-arginine for chest pain and various blood flow issues, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and a serious disease in premature infants called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). It's also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
- Angina. Oral L-arginine seems to improve symptoms and exercise tolerance in patients with angina.
Login for details - Erectile dysfunction (ED). Oral L-arginine might improve symptoms of ED. When taken with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, L-arginine seems to provide a small additional benefit.
Login for details - Hypertension. Oral L-arginine can modestly reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Login for details - Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Oral L-arginine may help prevent NEC in premature infants.
Login for details - Peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Short-term use of intravenous or oral L-arginine may improve symptoms of PAD, but long-term use does not seem to be beneficial.
Login for details - Pre-eclampsia. Intravenous L-arginine may have beneficial effects in pre-eclampsia. However, it is unclear if oral L-arginine is effective.
Login for details - Pregnancy-induced hypertension. Intravenous L-arginine may have beneficial effects in pregnancy-induced hypertension.
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- Chronic kidney disease (CKD). Oral or intravenous L-arginine does not seem to improve CKD.
Login for details - Hypercholesterolemia. Oral L-arginine does not seem to reduce cholesterol levels.
Login for details - Myocardial infarction (MI). Oral L-arginine does not seem to improve outcomes after MI.
Login for details - Tuberculosis. Oral L-arginine does not seem to improve symptoms or the clearance of tuberculosis infection.
Login for details - Wound healing. Oral L-arginine does not seem to improve wound healing.
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- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Small clinical studies suggest that oral L-arginine may prevent ARDS.
Login for details - Altitude sickness. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with altitude sickness.
Login for details - Anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Login for details
- Anemia of chronic disease. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial for anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Login for details - Asthma. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with asthma.
Login for details - Athletic performance. Small clinical studies suggest that oral L-arginine may improve measures of athletic performance.
Login for details - Beta-thalassemia. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in children with beta-thalassemia.
Login for details - Breast cancer. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with breast cancer.
Login for details - Cognitive impairment. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with cognitive impairment.
Login for details - Congestive heart failure (CHF). It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with CHF.
Login for details - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.
Login for details - Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial for preventing complications after CABG surgery.
Login for details - Critical illness (trauma). Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effects when used alone are unclear.
Login for details - Cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity. Login for details
- Cystic fibrosis. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Login for details - Dental caries. Small clinical studies suggest that using a dentifrice containing L-arginine might prevent dental caries.
Login for details - Dental hypersensitivity. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Diabetes. Small, low-quality studies suggest that oral L-arginine does not improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Login for details - Diabetic foot ulcers. It is unclear if oral or subcutaneous L-arginine is beneficial in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
Login for details - Diabetic neuropathy. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
Login for details - Head and neck cancer. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with head and neck cancer.
Login for details - Heart failure. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with heart failure.
Login for details - Heart transplant complications. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients that have received a heart transplant.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS-related wasting. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes). It is unclear if oral L-arginine can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes.
Login for details - Infertility. It is unclear if oral L-arginine improves outcomes in people undergoing an assisted reproductive technology (ART) program.
Login for details - Interstitial cystitis. Small clinical studies suggest that oral L-arginine may improve pain in interstitial cystitis.
Login for details - Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Small clinical studies suggest that oral or intravenous L-arginine may increase birthweight in IUGR.
Login for details - Kidney transplant. Small clinical studies suggest that oral L-arginine may not improve kidney function in patients after kidney transplantation.
Login for details - Male infertility. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in males with infertility.
Login for details - Mitochondrial myopathies. Small clinical studies suggest that intravenous L-arginine may modestly improve symptoms in patients with MELAS (myoclonic epilepsy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes syndrome).
Login for details - Migraine headache. Login for details
- Muscular dystrophy. There is limited evidence on the oral use of L-arginine in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Login for details - Nitrate tolerance. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial for nitrate tolerance.
Login for details - Obesity. Small clinical studies suggest that oral L-arginine may be beneficial for weight loss.
Login for details - Oral mucositis. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Periodontitis. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with periodontitis.
Login for details - Physical performance. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial for improving physical performance in older adults.
Login for details - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Postoperative infection. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Postoperative recovery. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Pressure ulcers. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Preterm labor. Small clinical studies suggest that oral L-arginine may prevent preterm labor.
Login for details - Pulmonary hypertension. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in children with pulmonary hypertension related to beta-thalassemia.
Login for details - Radiation dermatitis. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Restenosis. It is unclear if intravenous L-arginine helps to prevent restenosis after stent implantation.
Login for details - Respiratory tract infections. Login for details
- Schizophrenia. It is unclear if oral L-arginine is beneficial in patients with schizophrenia.
Login for details - Sexual dysfunction. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Sickle cell disease. Small clinical studies suggest that oral or intravenous L-arginine may modestly improve complications in patients with sickle cell disease.
Login for details - Stress. Oral L-arginine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Valproic acid-induced toxicities. Login for details
When taken by mouth: L-arginine is possibly safe for most people when taken short-term. It can cause some side effects such as stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and low blood pressure.
When applied to the skin: L-arginine is possibly safe for most people when used short-term. It's also possibly safe when used in a toothpaste short-term.
When inhaled: L-arginine is possibly safe for most people when used short-term.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: L-arginine is possibly safe when taken by mouth for a short time during pregnancy. Not enough is known about using L-arginine long-term in pregnancy. Stay on the safe side and avoid long-term use.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if L-arginine is safe to use when breast-feeing. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: L-arginine is possibly safe in children when taken by mouth, when used in a toothpaste, or when inhaled.
Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency (GAMT): People with this inherited condition are unable to convert arginine and other similar chemicals into creatine. To prevent complications from this condition, avoid L-arginine supplements.
Recent heart attack: L-arginine might increase the risk of death after a heart attack, especially in older people. If you have had a heart attack recently, don't take L-arginine.
Kidney disease: L-arginine has caused high potassium levels when used by people with kidney disease. In some cases, this has resulted in a dangerous irregular heartbeat.
Surgery: L-arginine might interfere with blood pressure control during and after surgery. Stop taking L-arginine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-arginine seems to decrease blood pressure. Isoproterenol is a drug that is used to lower blood pressure. Taking L-arginine along with isoproterenol might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-arginine might lower blood sugar levels. Taking L-arginine along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications for high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-arginine might lower blood pressure. Taking L-arginine along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications for high blood pressure (Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs))
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-arginine might lower blood pressure. Taking L-arginine along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-arginine might lower blood pressure. Taking L-arginine along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-arginine might slow blood clotting. Taking L-arginine along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Sildenafil can lower blood pressure. L-arginine can also lower blood pressure. There is a chance that taking sildenafil and L-arginine together might cause blood pressure to go too low. But most people seem to be fine when taking these products together.
Testosterone
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
L-arginine might increase testosterone levels. But it's not clear if this is a big concern. People taking testosterone should be cautious until more is known about this potential interaction.
Water pills (Potassium-sparing diuretics)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
L-arginine might increase potassium levels in the body. Some "water pills" might also increase potassium in the body. Taking L-arginine along with some "water pills" might cause too much potassium to be in the body.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: L-arginine might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: L-arginine might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: L-arginine might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
There are no known interactions with foods.
L-arginine has most often been used by adults in doses that vary from 1.5 to 24 grams by mouth daily, for up to 18 months. It's also sometimes used in gels and creams. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product or dose might be best for a specific condition.
2-Amino-5-(diaminomethylidene amino) pentanoic acid, 2-Amino-5-guanidinopentanoic Acid, (2S)-2-Amino-5-{[amino (imino) methyl]amino}pentanoic Acid, (S)-2-Amino-5- Guanidinopentanoic Acid, Acide 2-Amino-5-Guanidinopentanoïque, Arg, Arginine, Arginine Aspartate, Arginine Ethyl Ester, Arginine Ethyl Ester Dihydrochloride, Arginine Ethyl Ester HCl, Arginine HCl, Arginine Hydrochloride, Di-Arginine Malate, Di-Arginine Orotate, Di-L-Arginine-L-Malate, Dl-Arginine, L-Arginina, L-Arginine Ethyl Ester Dichloride, L-Arginine HCl, L-Arginine Hexanoate, L-Arginine Hydrochloride, L-Arginine Ketoisocaproic Acid, L-Arginine L-Pyroglutamate, L-Arginine Pyroglutamate, L-Arginine Taurinate, Malate de Di-Arginine, Orotate de Di-Arginine, R-Gene 10.
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