Does L-Arginine Work?

Some people may wonder, "Does L-arginine work?" L-arginine is supposedly useful for treating several health conditions, such as migraines, certain heart problems, and impotence. Studies have shown that L-arginine may be beneficial for some of these uses, including congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, migraines, and intermittent claudication. However, more research is needed to support these claims.

 

Does L-Arginine Really Work?

As with many dietary supplements, L-arginine is claimed to be useful for treating a wide variety of health conditions. While there is some scientific proof to many of these claims, others are quite exaggerated.
 
This article will address the effectiveness of L-arginine for several different uses, including:
 
Does L-Arginine Work for Heart Health?
Early studies suggest that L-arginine may be beneficial for people with congestive heart failure (CHF), although L-arginine should not be used in place of more established CHF treatment. There is also some evidence that L-arginine may slightly lower blood pressure. There is mixed evidence to suggest that L-arginine may be helpful for chest pain (angina). L-arginine does not seem to help decrease the damage caused by a heart attack. In fact, one study showed that people who took L-arginine after a recent heart attack actually did worse.
 
Keep in mind that L-arginine may potentially interact with blood pressure medications and medications for chest pain (see L-Arginine Drug Interactions).
 
Does L-Arginine Work for Impotence?
Studies that used high doses of L-arginine (5 grams per day) indicated that this supplement might be effective for treating impotence that is caused by physical problems. Other studies seem to suggest that lower doses may not be effective and that L-arginine may not work for impotence cause by psychological problems. Keep in mind that L-arginine can interact with some erectile dysfunction medications (see L-Arginine Drug Interactions).
(Does L-Arginine Work? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;