Key result
Hypertensive patients had significantly lower mean plasma L-arginine levels (174.33 µmol/L) compared to non-hypertensive controls (237.82 µmol/L, p=0.04).
Case-Control (n=140)
No
Absolute Event Rate: 174.33% vs 237.82%
p-value: p=0.04
Plasma L-arginine levels are significantly lower in hypertensive patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential role for L-arginine deficiency in the pathophysiology of hypertension.
Supports endothelial dysfunction hypothesis in hypertension; leaves open clinical utility of L-arginine supplementation.
Hypertension is a major public health problem that adversely affects the health status of individuals, families and communities. L-arginine levels of a total of 90 consecutively-recruited hypertensive subjects and 50 age-matched non-hypertensive controls were studied. Plasma from subjects and control participants were analyzed for L-arginine. The mean values of L-arginine level were significantly lower among the hypertensive subjects which are (174.33 ± 78.31 μmol/L) compared to those of the 50 non-hypertensive controls (237.82 ± 261.16 μmol/L) (p = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in the L-arginine levels of hypertensive subjects based on gender, age and ethnici-ty (p = 0.87, 0.23 and 0.57) respectively. The L-arginine level was significantly higher among married hypertensive subjects (181.71 ± 78.17 μmol/L) compared to single or unmarried subjects (130.62 ± 65.99 μmol/L) (p = 0.03). The mean value of L-arginine level was significantly higher among hypertensive subjects with mild blood pressure (187.63 ± 77.93 μmol/L) compared to those with high blood pressure (156.93 ± 76.31 μmol/L). The difference however was not statistically significant (p = 0.05). The findings from this study confirm that the level of L-arginine is lower among hypertensive subjects compared to non-hypertensive controls. Age, gender and ethnicity did not have a significant effect on the L-arginine levels of hypertensive subjects. L-arginine level was significantly lower among single hypertensive patients and those with markedly raised blood pressure. It is recommended the L-arginine supplement be prescribed to hypertensive patient as a prophylactic measure. There is a need to enlighten hypertensive patients in the area on the need to maintain a balanced diet containing sufficient level of L-arginine.
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Erhabor et al. (2016) conducted a case-control in Hypertension (n=140). Hypertension vs. Non-hypertensive controls was evaluated on Plasma L-arginine level (µmol/L) (p=0.04). Hypertensive patients had significantly lower mean plasma L-arginine levels (174.33 µmol/L) compared to non-hypertensive controls (237.82 µmol/L, p=0.04).
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