This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hurson, M. Articles by Barbul, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hurson, M. Articles by Barbul, A. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Metabolic Effects of Arginine in a Healthy Elderly Population

Departments of Surgery, Sinai Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Mark C. Regan, MD, FRCSI

Departments of Surgery, Sinai Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Stephen J. Kirk, MD, FRCSI

Departments of Surgery, Sinai Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Hannah L. Wasserkrug, BA

Departments of Surgery, Sinai Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Adrian Barbul, MD, FACS

Departments of Surgery, Sinai Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Recently there has been much interest in the use of arginine to stimulate immune responses and to promote wound healing. In the present study, the effect of an oral supplementation with arginine on the metabolism of 45 healthy, nonsmoking, elderly volunteers was investigated. Subjects were divided into two groups that received either arginine aspartate (17 g free arginine) (n = 30) or a placebo (n = 15). The supplements were taken for a period of 14 days. Dietary intake of food was not controlled. Blood chemistry, lipid profiles, and as an index of nutritional status, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels and nitrogen balance were compared before and after supplementation. Two weeks of arginine supplementation led to a significant elevation of serum insulin-like growth factor concentrations and an improved and positive nitrogen balance (2.0 ± 0.41 g N) when compared with controls (0.11 ± 0.47 g N; p = 0.0114). In addition the arginine-supplemented group demonstrated a decreased total serum cholesterol with a reduction in the low-density lipoprotein but not the high-density lipoprotein fraction resulting in a increase in the ratio of low- to high-density lipoprotein fraction. No adverse effects were observed at this dosage of arginine. The data suggest that oral arginine supplementation may be used safely in elderly humans. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 19:227-230, 1995)

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Vol. 19, No. 3, 227-230 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/0148607195019003227


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. I. M. Fernandes, A. E. Murakami, E. N. Martins, M. I. Sakamoto, and E. R. M. Garcia Effect of arginine on the development of the pectoralis muscle and the diameter and the protein:deoxyribonucleic acid rate of its skeletal myofibers in broilers Poult. Sci., July 1, 2009; 88(7): 1399 - 1406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. H. Castellanos, M. D. Litchford, and W. W. Campbell Modular Protein Supplements and Their Application to Long-Term Care Nutr Clin Pract, October 1, 2006; 21(5): 485 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Schulz and J. Stechmiller Wound Healing and Nitric Oxide Production: Too Little or Too Much May Impair Healing and Cause Chronic Wounds International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, March 1, 2006; 5(1): 6 - 8. [PDF]

				C. Thompson and M. P. Fuhrman Nutrients and Wound Healing: Still Searching for the Magic Bullet Nutr Clin Pract, June 1, 2005; 20(3): 331 - 347. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Stechmiller, B. Childress, and L. Cowan Arginine Supplementation and Wound Healing Nutr Clin Pract, February 1, 2005; 20(1): 52 - 61. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Wilmore Enteral and Parenteral Arginine Supplementation to Improve Medical Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients J. Nutr., October 1, 2004; 134(10): 2863S - 2867S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Westphal, S. Kastner, E. Taneva, A. Leodolter, J. Dierkes, and C. Luley Postprandial lipid and carbohydrate responses after the ingestion of a casein-enriched mixed meal Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2004; 80(2): 284 - 290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Langkamp-Henken, K. A. Herrlinger-Garcia, J. K. Stechmiller, J. A. Nickerson-Troy, B. Lewis, and L. Moffatt Arginine Supplementation Is Well Tolerated but Does Not Enhance Mitogen-Induced Lymphocyte Proliferation in Elderly Nursing Home Residents with Pressure Ulcers JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, September 1, 2000; 24(5): 280 - 287. [Abstract] [PDF]