L-Arginine - What You Need to Know About L-Arginine
Arginine plays a key role in cell division and is therefore required to ensure the liver, joints, muscles (including the heart) and skin are healthy. It also acts to remove ammonia from the body and regulate many hormonal processes in the body, including male fertility.
Vital for muscle metabolism, arginine aids weight loss by facilitating increased muscle mass and reduced body fat. (from
Arginine - Health Brands Australia)
Arginine is known to stimulate growth hormone release and has been said to increase muscle mass and fat loss (especially when combined with ornithine). Human growth hormone is secreted by a gland in the brain and has a direct effect on metabolism by increasing the levels of fat and glucose burnt for energy. Growth hormone also has an anabolic (building-up) effect, promoting protein formation, tissue growth and wound healing. Studies have shown that oral supplementation with Arginine alone does not stimulate growth hormone release.
Ammonia is known to increase in the blood during exercise, which can promote the formation of lactic acid. This can build up in muscles during exercise and result in fatigue and muscle soreness. Arginine facilitates the release of ammonia from the body via the urine, although it has not been shown to significantly decrease ammonia build-up when taken during exercise. (from health point)
MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Arginine (L-arginine) Refer to the table titled "Uses based on scientific evidence"
if you want more, just ask, I'll supply more links.
I also find personally that it works rather strongly in regards to the NO argument. But that is just me and only when I take pure arginine before a workout.
I don't see much use it taking it alone though. It is good when used in combination with things.
Also as someone else on this forum found out, if you take too much you will be sitting on the toilet all day, so if there is enough arginine in your protein shake and other supplements, it is not going to benefit you to take pure arginine.