Taking Heart - research indicates that L-arginine may be help aboid cardiovascular disease, however a health care practitioner should be consulted - Brief Article

Vegetarian Times, Nov, 1999 by Cristin Marandino

Nearly 60 million Americans suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease. And while research has clearly demonstrated that diet and lifestyle choices can help reverse heart disease, there may be a supplement that, when combined with healthy living, can help those at risk avoid the "silent killer" altogether.

L-arginine (el-AR-ji-neen), an amino acid found in meat and often used as a treatment for impotence, is gaining a reputation as a viable tool in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Separate recent studies from Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic and the American Heart Association have found that L-arginine plays a vital role in the production of nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax and dilate. In turn, this action increases blood flow, normalizes blood pressure and leads to healthy functioning of the heart and arteries. L-arginine is also a powerful antioxidant and has been shown to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels--another big risk factor in heart disease.

But before you consider supplementing your diet with L-arginine, discuss it with your health care practitioner, since dosing depends on your personal medical history and disease-risk profile. Also, if you are taking prescription medication for high blood pressure, impotence or migraines, the supplement could be contraindicated.