L-Arginine Studied for Age-Related Cardiovascular Support

The amino acid L-arginine may reduce plaque deposition in blood vessels in older animals, according to a recently published study.

L-arginine is the precursor to the molecule nitric oxide, which plays an important role in the activity of the cells that line blood vessels, known as the endothelium. Nitric oxide is produced from the endothelial cells and acts locally to vasodilate or relax the blood vessel, as well as reduce platelet aggregation and white blood cell adhesion, which are involved in the deposition of fatty plaques in the vessels.

Researchers investigated the role of dietary L-arginine supplementation on plaque deposition in the blood vessels in both young and old rabbits. The rabbits were fed a one percent cholesterol diet with or without L-arginine for 8 weeks. The rabbits were then evaluated for the frequency and locations of fatty deposits in the aorta, the main blood vessels in the chest and abdomen.

The results of the study showed that the distribution but not the frequency of fatty lesions differed in the young versus old rabbits that did not receive L-arginine. The mature rabbits that received L-arginine supplementation showed a reduction in the mean frequency of the fatty deposits. However, there was no change in the frequency of fatty deposits in the young rabbits that were supplemented with L-arginine.

The researchers concluded that the protective effect of dietary L-arginine on the deposition of fatty plaques in cholesterol-fed rabbits increases with age.

Reference:

Cremers SG, Wolffram SJ, Weinberg PD. Atheroprotective effects of dietary l-arginine increase with age in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Br J Nutr. 2011 Jan 27:1-10. Published Online Ahead of Print.