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amino acid
arginine
Nutrition

definition

Arginine:

» overview:
• Synthesis of guanidinoacetic acid, polyamines and creatine.
• Stimulates the first enzyme in the urea cycle, carbamyl phosphate.
• Essential in the transport, storage, and excretion of nitrogen.

» metabolism:
• Arginine is made in the body from glutamic acid in a series of reactions which form ornithine (an immediate precursor).
• Arginine is broken down so rapidly by urea and ornithine that the body sometimes has a difficult time keeping up the supply. Furthermore, it is generally poorly absorbed from the gut.
• Thus, it is considered a semi-essential amino acid It is required for the synthesis of guanidinoacetic acid, polyamines, and creatine.
• Its primary role, however, is involved in the urea cycle. Arginine stimulates the action of carbamyl phosphate synthetase which is the first step in the urea cyclecitrulline, aspartate and ornithine are also involved in the urea cycle and aid arginine in its function to rid the body of nitrogenous waste.

Genetic inborn errors in arginine metabolism:
• Citrullinemia: Argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency.
Arginino succinicaciduria: Argininosuccinate lyase deficiency, with an incidence of 1 per 60,000 infants, causes infant retardation, seizures, ataxia and eventually death. Another peculiarity is marked by short, dry and brittle hair with minute nodes on the hair shaft. This defect can also occur in normal people who have suboptimal levels of arginine in their hair.
• Arginemia: arginase deficiency.

» function:
• Arginines primary function is the detoxification of urea. As mentioned above, the majority of arginine is used in urea metabolism. Arginine is involved with immunity and also in maintaining body weight during acute trauma. It is considered only semi-essential because it is made in the body from ornithine.
• In animal studies the survival rate and bacterial containment within the gut are significantly improved during acute trauma when arginine is present in sufficient amounts. Concentrated in the muscles, it is responsible for the high energy compounds guanidophosphate, phosphoarginine and creatine which the muscles use.
• It also has a protective effect against certain liver toxins such as carbon tetrachloride, alcohol, and galactosamine-induced hepatitis.

» Chinese:
• Tonfies the Kidney; strengthens the Yang, and the Jin Sinews and Bones; moistens the Intestines; promotes bowel movements; expels Wind Cold Dampness; contraindicated in Yin Xu (Deficiency); and depressive Fire conditions.

» requirements:
• RDA: only semi essential
• Average intake in the U.S.: 5 g per day.

» food sources:
• walnuts, filberts, pecans, Brazil nuts, sesame and sunflower seeds, coconut, gelatin, buckwheat, almonds, barley, cashews, cereals, chicken, chocolate, corn, dairy products, meats, oats, and peanuts

Best Sources of Arginine:
Food Amount mg
Chicken, fried 3 oz 1654
Lamb, leg roasted 3 oz 1531
Pork 3 oz 1470
Tuna 1/2 can small 1400
Beef, chuck 3 oz 1372
Liver, beef 3 oz 1362
Salmon 3 oz 1311
Shrimp 3 oz 1166
Peanuts 1/4c (1.3oz) 1080
Wild game 1/4 c 966
Almonds, whole 1/4 c 910
Granola 1 c 900
Cheese, Ricotta 1/2 c 800
Yogurt 1c 250
Cheese, cottage 1/2 c 700
Wheat germ, toasted 1/4 c 675
Cashews, roasted 1/4 c 650
Oats 1 c 600
Meat, luncheon 3 oz 592
Soybeans, cooked 1/2 c 540
Bacon 3 slice med 525
Turkey 3 oz 463
Kidney beans, cooked 1/2 cup 420
Duck 3 oz 412
Egg 1 med 400
Sausage 3 oz 315
Milk, whole 1 cup 300
Chicken 3 oz 278
Bread, whole wheat 2 slice 255
Yogurt 1 c 250
Collards 1/2 c cooked 240
Rice, brown cooked 1 cup (185g) 183
(USDA: Composition of Foods. USDA Handbook #8 Washington DC, ARS, USDA, 1976-1986)

» deficiency:
• Usually related to overall protein malnutrition, an arginine deficiency can occur with excessive ammonia production, excess, protein or enzyme deficiency.
• Arginine deficiency is associated with rash, hair loss, poor wound healing, constipation, fatty liver, and cirrhosis.


» therapeutics:
Infertility from oligospermia: 4 g per day. There have been both positive and negative studies on arginines effect in increasing sperm count and motility. It may work best in mild problems.
(Schachter A, et al. J Urol 110(3):311-313, 1973; Papp GY, et al. Andrologia 11:37, 1979; Papp G, et al. Int Urol Nephrol 15(2): 195-203, 1983.)
Inflammatory bowel disease: It has been found that arginine is especially useful in preventing secondary infections and weight loss during acute inflammatory bowel reactions. (Barbul A, et al. J Surg Res 29:228-35, 1980; Barbul A, et al. Surg Forum 28:101-102, 1977.)
Immunity enhancement: 30 g per day, may enhance lymphocyte activity. It has been found that during acute trauma, an arginine deficiency greatly increases mortality and morbidity.
Wound healing enhancement, including post-surgerical: During acute trauma arginine is especially useful in maintaining epithelial integrity against bacterial translocation both on skin and in intestines.
Trauma: Arginine helps maintain weight, especially during acute traumas of various types.
Increase lean body mass: Studies show mild effects at large doses.
Cancer Treatment: In animals arginine has been shown to inhibit tumor growth by activating macrophage cytotoxic effects.
Hypercholesterolemia: Arginine inhibits fat absorption. The higher the levels of arginine, the lower the cholesterol levels found.
Cystic fibrosis


» dosage:
• 6 g per day, note: do not use long term

» toxicity:
Herpes simplex: Arginine has been found to promote the growth of Herpes simplex, especially if lysine levels are low. In addition, excessive arginine (greater than 40 g per day) can cause diarrhea. Hyperphosphatemia can be induced by arginine in patients with severe hepatic disease and kidney problems. They can, in turn, increase ornithine and citrulline levels which can produce ataxia. (Marz, p. 71, 1997)

» contraindications:
• kidney disease
Herpes simplex: avoid foods high in arginine and low in lysine: chocolate, nuts, peanuts



footnotes

Barbul, A, et al. Arginine: Thyrotrophic and wound healing promoting agent, Surg Forum 28:101-102, 1977.

Barbul, A, et al. Immunostimulatory effects of arginine in normal and injured rats. J Surg Res 29:228-35, 1980.

Braverman and Pfeiffer, pp. 165-182

Papp, GY, et al. The importance of arginine content and arginase activity in fertility. Andrologia 11:37, 1979.

Papp, G, et al. The role of basic amino acids of the seminal plasma in fertility. Int Urol Nephrol 15(2): 195-203, 1983.
Abstract: 15.7% of 47 patients with pathospermia had mean seminal arginine concentrations which were significantly lower by 57% than normozoopermic patients while arginine values in the remainder of the pathospermia group were similar to those of the normozoopermic group. The mean seminal arginine concentrations of the azoopermic group were 28% lower than those of the normozoospermic group while the arginine concentrations of the oligozoospermic group corresponded to those of the normozoospermic group. Levels of arginine and ornithine in seminal plasma, if low, should be a strong indicator for supplementation of these 2 amino acids.

Marz, Russell. Medical Nutrition From Marz. Second Edition. Portland, OR. 1997

Schachter, A, et al. Treatment of oligospermia with the amino acid arginine. J Urol 110(3):311-313, 1973. Abstract: 178 men with mild to severe abnormalities in sperm count and motility received L-arginine 4gms/day for 3 months. 62% had a marked improvement, 12% had moderate improvement, and 26% had no improvement. 12% of men with sperm counts below 20 million per ejaculate increased their sperm count at least 100% compared to 36% of men with sperm counts of 20-50 million per ejaculate. No side effects were noted.

USDA: Composition of Foods. USDA Handbook #8 Washington DC, ARS, USDA, 1976-1986.