Arginine is found in foods such as meat, dairy products, poultry and fish. The body uses arginine to create nitric oxide, a substance used to relax the blood vessel.
Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid, which means that under most circumstances, the human body synthesis its own arginine as needed.
It is considered to be essential in newborn infants and during early childhood development when production may not occur quickly enough to keep up with requirements.
Arginine is required for the detoxification of ammonia and amine resulting in the production of urea.
Arginine is also a precursor for nitric oxide, a simple gas made up of nitrogen and oxygen that penetrates and crosses the membranes of almost all cells in human body and helps regulates many cellular functions.
Arginine also helps the body to manufacture protein and is needed for the production of certain hormones, including growth hormones. It is one of acclaimed five amino acids and it is crucial for muscle growth.
For athlete, arginine is actually a conditionally essential a like intense training in the gym, increases body’s demand for this amino acid.
Deficiency of arginine may occur in the presence of excessive ammonia, excessive lysine, rapid growth, pregnancy, trauma, or protein deficiency and malnutrition.
Symptoms of arginine deficiency include poor wound healing, muscular weakness, impotence, hair loss, skin rash, constipation and fatty liver.
Amino acid of Arginine
