Key result
A four-gram dose of L-arginine significantly increased resting blood flow compared to placebo (69.05 vs 49.46 ml/min) but did not improve lactate clearance or muscular endurance during exhaustive exercise.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to further understand the effects of L-arginine on its ability to enhance lactate clearance and increase overall blood flow before, during, and after exhaustive anaerobic exercise.
Does acute L-arginine supplementation improve blood flow, lactate clearance, and muscular endurance in healthy young males during exhaustive exercise?
RCT (n=12)
Single-blind
Counterbalanced order using a Latin square
No
Does acute L-arginine supplementation improve blood flow, lactate clearance, and muscular endurance in healthy young males during exhaustive exercise?
Absolute Event Rate: 69.05% vs 49.46%
p-value: p=0.022
Acute supplementation with 4g of L-arginine increases resting and post-exercise blood flow but does not enhance lactate clearance or muscular endurance in healthy young men.
Does not support acute L-arginine to enhance lactate clearance or endurance; leaves open its ergogenic role despite increased blood flow.
Introduction: To further understand the effects of L-arginine on both its ability to enhance lactate clearance and increase overall blood flow before, during, and after exhaustive anaerobic exercise. Methods: Twelve healthy male subjects between the ages of 18-25 first completed an initial visit where baseline data was recorded. Subjects completed three additional visits, in which they ingested either a placebo, two-gram or four-gram dose of L-arginine. Blood flow (BF) and lactate were recorded before ingestion of the treatment, 5 and 15-minutes post-ingestion prior to performing a push-up test to volitional fatigue. Immediately following the push-up test, BF and lactate were assessed and again 15-minutes post exercise. Results: Blood lactate did not differ across condition (p=0.569). Lactate clearance was not influenced by L-arginine when analyzing the Area Under Curve. Blood flow increased with ingestion of the four-gram dose while at rest (the 15-minute mark). Blood flow was also enhanced in the four-gram dose immediately after exercise at the 25-minute mark. Conclusions: The data suggests that a four-gram dose of L-arginine plays a more significant role in blood flow than the clearance of lactate after exercise compared to a two-gram dose or placebo.
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Feeback et al. (2022) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=12). L-arginine vs. Placebo was evaluated on Blood flow at 15 minutes post-ingestion (resting) (p=0.022). A four-gram dose of L-arginine significantly increased resting blood flow compared to placebo (69.05 vs 49.46 ml/min) but did not improve lactate clearance or muscular endurance during exhaustive exercise.
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