Arginine in\nIV form or in a high dose orally, stimulates the secretion of the anabolic\nhormone somatotropin, better known as growth hormone or HGH. (3) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is hard\nto say if a high peak in growth hormone secretion will directly lead to\nincreased sports performances, but there are reasons to assume it might help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent\nresearch has shown that arginine also might have a direct effect on muscle\nprotein synthesis via mTOR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arginine is\nalso involved in the detoxification of ammonia, a metabolite of very high\nintensity exercise and the breakdown of proteins (the locker room fragrance).\nAmmonia has a negative effect on neuronal functioning and coordination.(4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arginine is\nalso necessary for the synthesis of creatine-phosphate in the muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arginine\nalso affects NO production and might be improving vasodilatation (more blood\nflow to the muscles) but is mainly useful for cardiac patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another\npositive effect of arginine is its stimulating effect on immune function. The\nrecent Covid-19 situation once again stressed the importance of a\nwell-functioning immune system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nlimitation for the use of arginine is that it works better when one is a\nfemale, older or untrained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arginine\nhas been studied well and the most used forms are L-arginine or\narginine-aspartate (aspartic acid is another amino acid with reported to have\nammonia-lowering effects as well). (5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This why it\nis used in ammonia-detoxification in case of liver dysfunction leading to brain\nproblems by ammonia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ornithine<\/strong> is related to arginine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like\narginine, ornithine also stimulates the secretion of growth hormone.(6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is known\nto increase work capacity and reduce fatigue. (7) . Ornithine reduces stress\nmarkers like cortisol and improves sleep quality as well. (8). Both arginine\nand ornithine are used to speed up the recovery of burns and of wound healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ornithine\nis often used in the form of ornithine-keto-glutarate or OKG<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citrulline<\/strong> is rather new as a focus of interest, thanks\nto its capacity to increase NO and vasodilatation. Most likely that\u2019s is why it\nwas hailed as being \u201cthe natural Viagra\u201d. Natural, because one of the main\nsources of citrulline is \u2026.. water melon. Now it is somewhat impractical and\ncounterproductive to eat enough watermelon to create a Viagra-like effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The effects\nof citrulline (in capsule or powder form) overlap with the effect of arginine\nand ornithine. (9,10,11) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Citrulline\nhas been studied for a long time for its anti-fatigue effects. The most used\nform is citrulline-malate (malic acid is a natural organic acid (apples) and\ncan be found in the citric acid cycle as well).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order\nfor these amino acids to be effective one needs dosages into the grams, ranging\nfrom 5- 10 gram per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Takeda,\nK; Takemasa,T : An Overview of Ornithine, Arginine and Citrulline in Exercise\nand Sports Nutrition; in: Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance, 2013,\nChapter 43, pg.423-439, DOI: http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/B978-0-12-396454-0.00043-6<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Schaefer,\na; Piquard, F; Geny, B; Doutreleau, S; Lampert, E; Mettauer, B; Lonsdorfer, J: L-Arginine Reduces Exercise-Induced Increase\nin Plasma Lactate and Ammonia; Int J Sports Med 2002; 23: pg.403\u2013407.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 Collier,\nS.R; Casey, D.P; Kanaley, J.A: Growth\nhormone responses to varying doses of oral arginine; Growth Hormone & IGF\nResearch 15 (2005) pg. 136\u2013139.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4 Banister\nE.W; Cameron B.J; Exercise-induced hyperammonemia: peripheral and central\neffects. Int J Sports Med 1990;11 (Suppl 2) pg. 129-142.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5 Zak, R.B;\n Camic, C.L; Hill, E.C; Monaghan, M.M; Kovacs,A.J;\n Wright, G.A: Acute effects of an\narginine-based supplement on neuromuscular, ventilatory, and metabolic fatigue\nthresholds during cycle ergometry; Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 40: 1\u20137 (2015)\ndx.doi.org\/10.1139\/apnm-2014-0379<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 Demura, S;\nYamada, T; Yamaji, S; Komatsu, M; Morishita, K: The effect of L-ornithine\nhydrochloride ingestion on human growth hormone secretion after strength\ntraining; Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 2010, 1, pg. 7-11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7 Suginoa, T;\nShiraia, T; Kajimotoa, Y; Kajimoto, O: L-Ornithine supplementation attenuates\nphysical fatigue in healthy volunteers by modulating lipid and amino acid\nmetabolism; Nutrition Research 28 (2008) ,pg.738\u2013743.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8 Miyake, M;\nKirisako, T; Kokubo, T; Miura, Y; Morishita,\nK; Okamura, H; Tsuda, A: Randomised controlled trial of the effects of\nL-ornithine on stress markers and sleep quality in healthy workers; Nutrition\nJournal 2014, 13: 53<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/helpingthebesttogetbetter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Watermelon-2-1024x768.jpg\")