neither current generation l-arg nor products like Nitrix will have any long term effects on body comp or muscle building
For the average person (obese, inactive) I agree
For the average bodybuilder, I disagree
For the original poster, read this:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=253454
and
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1524-475X.2003.11605.x/full/
"Arginine is a basic amino acid that plays several pivotal roles in cellular physiology. Like any amino acid, it is involved with protein synthesis, but it is also intimately involved with cell signaling through the production of nitric oxide and cell proliferation through its metabolism to ornithine and the other polyamines. Because of these multiple functions, arginine is an essential substrate for wound healing processes. Numerous studies have shown that arginine supplementation can lead to normalization or improvement of healing. This article reviews the basic biochemistry and cell signaling within which arginine performs its functions. In particular, the requirement for this amino acid in tissue repair is highlighted."
<img src="http://www.technologyorgasm.com/upload/arg2.jpg">
FIGURE 2. Effect of arginine deficiency and arginine supplementation on wound healing. (A) Deficiency state; (B) supplemented state. Fresh breaking strength (FBS) in grams was used as a measure of healing. Formalin-fixed breaking strength (FxBS) in grams and hydroxyproline accumulation (OHP) as µg/100 mg sponge were also determined.
<img src="http://www.technologyorgasm.com/upload/arg1.jpg">
"Arginine is a dibasic amino acid. It is a constituent of several proteins in the body, and its metabolism is intimately tied to several metabolic pathways involved in the synthesis of urea, NO, polyamines, agmatine, and creatine phosphate. Arginine can be provided via nutritional intake or via new synthesis. Citrulline, generated from glutamine in the small intestine, is the major precursor for arginine. 4 About 50% of the ingested arginine is released into the portal circulation. The other part is directly utilized in the small bowel. The physiological uptake of arginine and citrulline by the liver is low because the liver does not express large amounts of the cationic transporter for the basic amino acid arginine (system y+). Therefore, most of the portal venous arginine and citrulline enters the systemic circulation and serves as substrate for extrahepatic tissues."
"...Although iNOS gene deletion delays, and arginine and NO administration improve healing, the exact mechanisms of action of NO on wound healing parameters are still unknown."
"One of the well-known biological effects of arginine is its very potent secretagogue activity on the pituitary 4547 and pancreatic glands. 48,49 The beneficial effects of supplemental arginine on wound healing are similar to the effects noted when growth hormone is administered to wounded animals or burned children."
"The response of healthy elderly human volunteers given 2 weeks of dietary supplementation with 30 g of arginine aspartate is enhanced wound collagen accumulation together with a significant elevation in circulating IGF-1. 39 This suggests that arginine does stimulate pituitary activity in the doses used and that this may be one of the mechanisms of action underlying its beneficial effect on wound healing."
Dietary arginine supplementation enhances the growth of milk-fed young pigs.
Kim SW, McPherson RL, Wu G.
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2141 and. Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471.
Body weights of piglets were measured and jugular venous blood samples were obtained for metabolite analysis at d 7, 14, and 21 of age. Food intake did not differ between control and arginine-supplemented piglets [66.7 vs. 69.5 g dry matter/(kg body wt. d)]. Compared with control piglets, dietary supplementation with 0.2 and 0.4% L-arginine dose dependently increased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of arginine by 30 and 61%, and decreased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of ammonia by 20 and 35%, and those of urea by 19 and 33%, respectively. Dietary supplementation with 0.4% L-arginine also increased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of insulin and growth hormone by 24-27% in piglets, compared with controls. Between 7 and 21 d of age, the supplementation of 0.2 and 0.4% L-arginine to piglets enhanced (P < 0.05) average daily weight gain by 28 and 66%, and body weight by 15 and 32%, respectively, compared with control piglets.
Blood pressure and metabolic changes during dietary L-arginine supplementation in humans.
Siani A; Pagano E; Iacone R; Iacoviello L; Scopacasa F; Strazzullo P
American Journal of Hypertension 2000 May;13(5 Pt 1):547-51
"...These results indicate that a moderate increase in L-arginine significantly lowered blood pressure and affected renal function and carbohydrate metabolism in healthy volunteers."
Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Medical Center, Division of Geriatric Medicine, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 915 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63106, USA.
"...We have previously shown that nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role as a mediator of feeding induced by a variety of neuropeptides. This raises the question of whether ghrelin's effects are NO dependent. Here, we first determined that intracerebroventricular administration of 100 ng of ghrelin significantly increased food intake in satiated mice. We next examined the effects of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, on ghrelin-induced increase in food intake. A subthreshold dose (12.5mg/kg; SC) of L-NAME significantly blocked the ghrelin-induced increase in food intake. Ghrelin administration increased the levels of nitric oxide synthase in the hypothalamus. This supports the hypothesis that nitric oxide is a central regulator of food consumption."
For Lok7y,
Originally posted by Par Deus
Taken preworkout and only preworkout, they should have some real benefits, on muscle's appearance -- not just temporarily.
If you increase NO in the muscle, you are simulating part of the effect of working out that causes adaptation. The growth response is a combination of metabolic (numerous) and chemical factors, combined with the mechanical stretch from loading of the fiber.
There is a ton of science in support of a product like this
-- I am quite certain I could make one that could cause the myofascia to rupture.
However, those using these NO products should be careful with them -- in addition to increasing the effects of exercise in skeletal muscle tissues, it will also increase it in regard to the cardiovascular system and the brain and elsewhere -- how much of each will depend on a bunch of things that I haven't researched enough to give specific recommendations.
What I do know is that whole body activities are going to be much worse.
This is going to go for most of the workout intensifier type products.
I about gave myself a heart-attack during my sprints with the formula I am experimenting with (and this was using a tiny dose, because I expected it) -- am absolutely going to make it a separate product from my workout drinks, because of this, when I finish formulations.
A set of lateral raises or concentration curls are ideal for these products.
20-rep squats and plyometrics are not.
In conjunction with 1-rep strength/power stuff is also an area of great interest, but I have not gotten to that yet.
I also think it quite possible that people can benefit from smaller amounts of pro-NO supplementation, in order to ensure appropriate NO responses by the body -- i.e. it is one of MANY things we can deplete/areas where one can "overtrain".
???