What Is L-Arginine?


What is arginine? Simply put arginine is an amino acid that comes in various forms. The L-form of arginine is one of the most common natural amino acids present in the body and is needed for a variety of functions.

In the late 1990’s a group of doctors found a revolutionary benefit from Nitric Oxide, a molecule the body produces from the L-form of arginine. They found that Nitric Oxide influences blood vessels in the body by dilating them, creating wider passageways for blood to flow.  High blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack occur when passageways are blocked and blood is restricted from flowing freely. Studies have shown that by simply taking enough L-arginine and L-citrulline, it is very easy to reverse deficiencies of Nitric Oxide, having the effect of reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke as well as reducing blood pressure.

If the objective is lowering blood pressure there is no replacing the effectiveness of diet and exercise, however even those with a meticulous diet and exercise routine can fall victim to high blood pressure. Looking at the combination of L-arginine and L-citrulline supplementation if high blood pressure has been a frequent problem. L-citrulline acts like a catalyst when combined with L-arginine and extends the body’s production of nitric oxide from a typical three hour window to over twenty four hours. This is important for sustained vasodilation, thus keeping blood pressure lower for longer periods of time.