Arginine

WHAT IS IT?
Arginine is an amino acid which has several roles in the body, such as assisting in the repair of muscle cells, strengthening the immune system, and promoting the secretion of several hormones, including growth hormone. This is a primary hormone relating to the production and repair of muscle tissue. Arginine is a suitable supplement for anyone wanting to gain muscle size and strength without excess fat. Sprinters, rugby players, bodybuilders and all athletes involved in strength- and power-based sports will benefit from arginine supplementation. This particular amino acid is found in many combination products especially creatine based ones.

HOW DOES  WORK?
The effect of arginine on growth hormone levels is of most interest to people wanting to lose fat and build muscle, such as athletes and those involved in physique development. It is well known that Growth Hormone is one of the most powerful hormones in the human body. GH is a primary anabolic hormone that promotes both the growth of lean muscle tissue and the loss of fat. As you age, growth hormone levels drop, which is one reason you lose muscle and gain fat as you age. When you are born you have very high levels of growth hormone that are somewhat lower when the sex hormones of puberty kick in, and then GH declines further the older we get. Dr. Daniel Rudman first discovered the benefits of growth hormone over 10 years ago. Publishing his findings in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, Rudman showed that just 6 months of growth hormone treatment increased lean muscle by almost 9%.

Because Arginine stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, arginine is a far safer and more cost effective alternative to growth hormone treatment. In a controlled trial, when arginine and other amino acids were combined with weight training, a greater decrease in body fat was obtained after only five weeks than when the same exercise was combined with a placebo. This has bee written about and well documented in Colgan's Optimum Sports Nutrition.

Although some of the research has used large doses of arginine, more recent trials suggest that arginine pyroglutamate (arginine bound to pyroglutamic acid) is more likely to cross the blood brain barrier and produce greater elevations in growth hormone levels.

Arginine is also needed to increase protein synthesis, which can in turn increase muscle growth. Arginine’s effect on increasing protein synthesis also means that it improves wound healing - all in all, great news for athletes and especially bodybuilders.

HOW MUCH AND WHEN?
Arginine is most effective when taken with one or more of the amino acids listed below. Many users over the age of 30 also report an increase in energy levels and feelings of well-being.

Research shows that arginine pyroglutamate combined with lysine (hydrochloride especially) elevates growth hormone levels by several hundred percent for a period of up to eight hours. Glutamine is also a highly effective amino acid for promoting the release of growth hormone. Research at Louisiana State University shows that just 2 grams of L-Glutamine elevates growth hormone levels by more than 400%. Combining all three is likely to yield the greatest results in terms of muscle growth and fat loss.

A product containing Argine, Lysine, Glutamine and Creatine would be a very powerful ergogenic muscle building aid for any athletic endeavor.