Here's the latest in our series of online articles bringing you clear and simple information about common sports supplements. Under scrutiny is arginine: what is it, what does it do, who should take it and when? Learn more about arginine supplement, a popular amino acid.
L-arginine supplements actually have a far longer name (L-arginine hydrochloride, or l-arginine HCL). But for the sake of this article, we'll just call it an arginine supplement.
So, what is arginine?
It's an amino acid, one of 20 proteinogen compounds which make up proteins. Of the 20 amino proteinogen amino acids, only two are classed as semi-essential, and one of these is arginine. A semi-essential amino acid can be made by the body but must be consumed (or taken as a supplement) under certain circumstances.
Arginine is a very important amino acid to add to your supplement stack, particularly if you put your body under heavy demand from training, lifting weights, sprinting or other intense training. It's involved in a lot of metabolic processes, and is necessary for healthy metabolic function. Arginine is a vasodilator, improving circulation, boosting muscle pumps, and even helping with male potency and libido. It's a powerful immune system strengthener, can boost the rate at which the body burns body fat, and is useful as part of a weight loss diet.
Importantly, it is a synergistic player in the body's production of HGH (human growth hormone), creatine, glycogen and glutamine. Your muscles will recover and repair from intense exercise much faster and better if you supplement with arginine.
L-arginine HCL is best known as a nitric oxide (NOX) stimulator and vasodilator, relaxing the blood vessels and helping the body shuttle oxygen and nutrients around the bloodstream. This makes it a useful supplement for during training and in the recovery period between training sessions.
The 101 on arginine (l-arginine HCL) supplement:
What is l-arginine in supplement form?
It's considered a semi-essential amino acid, which needs to be taken in supplement form under certain circumstances. It's very useful for anyone who trains hard, as it promotes healing and recovery, helps shuttle other nutrients to muscles, and improves muscle pump.
How does l-arginine differ from other amino acids:
It is semi-essential (one of only two semi-essential amino acids) and plays an important part in the production of the body's anabolic hormones and processes.
How to use l-arginine as a supplement:
Useful as part of your pre-workout or intra-workout stack, due to its vasodilating effects.
Why use l-arginine supplements:
Swell muscle cells, shuttle nutrients to muscles more effectively, support the production of HGH, get optimal levels of semi-essential amino acids.
Tips for smarter use:
1) Choose a pure and high quality l-arginine supplement
2) Keep l-arginine as an ingredient to create your own pre- or intra-workout drink for better performance
3) Combine with citrulline malate, beta alanine, l-glutamine and/or BCAAs
4) Flavour your l-arginine in drink form with sweetened flavour drops
