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L-Arginine Boosts Exercise Tolerance in Heart Failure

July 25, 2006 - Six weeks of oral L-arginine supplements
may improve the endurance of CHFers.
	Nitric oxide (NO) plays a basic role in the
cardiovascular system, both at rest and during exercise.
NO helps control blood vessel tone and structure, blood
pressure, and neurohormonal balance, wrote the trial's
lead researcher. He also said that dysfunction of the
L-arginine-NO pathway in CHFers reduces blood flow in
the arms and legs at rest and during exercise, partly
explaining CHFers' problems exercising.
	The researchers studied 6 weeks of oral
L-arginine supplements on endurance in 10 patients with
chronic stable heart failure. All patients were taking ACE
inhibitors, diuretics, and/or digoxin, but none were on
beta-blockers.
	Patients did a maximum endurance exercise
test before and after 6 weeks of L-arginine supplements
(6 patients) or no supplements (4 patients). Heart,
breathing and metabolism measures were taken at rest,
during exercise and during recovery. 
	L-arginine patients had slower heart rate
during exercise (-8 beats/minute) and during recovery
(-7 beats/minute). There were no changes in blood
pressure or breathing measures.
	During exercise, blood levels of a substance
that signals fatigue (lactate) increased in both groups.
L-arginine significantly reduced the effect of this substance
by 20%.
	These researchers believe that ongoing L-
arginine supplements might help improve CHFers'
endurance when added to an exercise plan.

Title:      Chronic L-Arginine Supplementation Enhances
              Endurance Exercise Tolerance in Heart Failure
              Patients
Authors: S. Doutreleau, B. Mettauer, F. Piquard, O.
               Rouyer1, A. Schaefer1, J. Lonsdorfer1, B. Geny1
Source:   Int J Sports Med 2006;27:567-572.
Source:   Reuters Health.