Arginine is one of the amino acids that make up proteins. It has the property of being a conditionally essential amino acid, and is also called arginine or L-arginine. Arginine plays an essential role in promoting the generation of cranial nerve cells including epithelial cells. are doing
It is also known to play an essential role as a semi-essential amino acid that supports the growth and development of growing children as well as having excellent benefits in maintaining muscle function. Now, let’s take a closer look at various information about the main effects of arginine, abundant foods, and side effects to be aware of when consumed.
Arginine main effects
1. Prevention of cardiovascular disease
Nitric oxide (NO), a compound in which nitrogen is oxidized, acts as a signal transmitter and is an endothelial relaxation factor involved in blood pressure regulation including vasodilation. The production of nitric oxide gradually decreases with age, and this lack of production makes the walls of arteries thick and increases the risk of various cardiovascular diseases. Arginine is involved in the formation of nitric oxide in the cell, improving blood flow through vasodilation. This blood flow improvement effect is known to play an important role in the prevention and improvement of symptoms of cardiovascular diseases such as angina.
In addition, arginine not only reduces the level of LDL cholesterol, which is a harmful cholesterol that blocks blood vessels, but also does not affect the level of HDL cholesterol, which is good cholesterol. I’ll be there.
2. Maintain muscle function
Arginine is involved in the action of helping the in vivo synthesis of creatine, which is used as an energy source for skeletal muscle. This action also plays an important role in helping to maintain muscle and strengthen muscle function. And the advantage of arginine as an excellent vasodilator material is that it facilitates the flow of blood flowing into the muscle, and this effect is also a part that has a good effect on the creation and maintenance of muscles. In addition, arginine not only has a beneficial effect on maintaining muscle function, but also plays an important role in the growth and development of growing children because it is also involved in promoting the release of growth hormone. Although arginine is a non-essential amino acid for adults, the reason why it is applied as an essential amino acid for infants can be attributed to this growth hormone-stimulating action.
3. Tissue regeneration effect
Arginine is also involved in the formation of L-protein, a compound that helps the biosynthesis of collagen, a hard protein that makes up skin tissue. This mechanism of action plays an important role in helping the skin tissue to regenerate, and it also has the effect of restoring and healing wounds caused by trauma and surgery. Arginine is also known to play an important role in preventing damage to the skin as well as nails and toenails.
4. Other effects
Arginine’s excellent blood flow improvement action facilitates the blood supply to the hair root, which is known to have an effect on hair health promotion and help stimulate hair growth. In addition, the main effect of vasodilation through the nitric oxide formation promoting action of arginine can help men’s erectile dysfunction treatment and symptom relief.
Arginine-rich foods and side effects
Arginine is found abundantly in fish such as salmon and mackerel, as well as meat such as chicken and pork. Among chicken parts, chicken breast is also the part that contains the most arginine. In addition, various legumes including eel, nuts such as peanuts, seeds such as pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, and dairy products such as milk and cheese are known to have a high content of arginine.
In addition, spirulina, one of the oldest algae, an excellent superfood that contains a large amount of antioxidants such as chlorophyll, tocopherol, and beta-carotene, is also a representative food high in arginine. It can be said that not only intake as such food but also intake of health functional food or supplement is a good way to effectively consume arginine. As such, arginine has various effects, but there are also side effects to be aware of when ingested. Although it is good for vascular health by improving blood flow, it is said that symptoms such as dizziness and vomiting may occur in people with low blood pressure. In addition, arginine can be applied as an essential amino acid excellent for growth and development to infants and children when ingested as food. It can be said that ingestion as food is the most effective and safe way. In addition, if the intake of arginine supplements is taken together with medications taken when there is an existing disease, conflicting action may cause problems, so it is a good way to decide whether to take it after consulting a specialist.
