Arginine

The overall rating for arginine is 1.6 out of 3 meaning there is some evidence that this supplement does some (not all) of what it claims. Using this supplement may lead to some improvements.

Table of Contents

  1. Simple Report
  2. Detailed Report
  3. Overall Effectiveness Rating
  4. Research Rating
  5. Products Containing Arginine
  6. Claim Ratings
  7. Dosing
  8. References

Arginine Simple Report

  • Supplement: Arginine
  • Supplement Category: conditionally essential amino acids
  • Number of Products Containing Arginine: 297
  • Effectiveness Rating: 1.6 out of 3
  • Research Rating: 40 (above 80 indicates sufficient research)
  • Number of Studies: 21
  • Number of Claims: 15
  • Effective Dosage Range: 500 milligrams per day

Arginine Detailed Report

Overall Effectiveness Rating

The overall effectiveness rating for arginine is 1.6 out of 3. This rating means the evidence is mixed on the supplement's ability to deliver positive results. While some of the research supports its use, other evidence does not. Using this supplement may lead to positive results. Note, this effectiveness rating is for arginine as a whole; there are also individual ratings for the claims below.

Read more: What is the effectiveness rating?

Research Rating for Arginine

There are 21 studies in the database on arginine; the research rating is 40. A score above 80 means the effectiveness rating for this supplement is reliable. A score under 80 means there is insufficient evidence to ensure a reliable effectiveness rating. Note, this research rating is for arginine as a whole; there are also individual ratings for the claims below.

Read more: What is the research rating?

Products Containing Arginine

Products Names Amount of Arginine
Venum 1g
Prime HGH 1.2g
Xplode 495mg
Action Amount not listed.
DROWZz 1g
Full list of all 297 products containing Arginine.

Claim Ratings

The overall ratings above are an average of the individual claim ratings below. Individual claims may have higher or lower ratings compared to the supplement's overall rating. For example, some supplements may have excellent backing for one claim, but be completely useless for another. Click on a claim below for more information.

Body Composition (weight, muscle, body fat) Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
decrease body fat
increase muscle mass
increase weight loss

Protein Synthesis Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
decrease protein breakdown

Performance Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
improve cycling performance
improve running performance
improve sports performance
improve sprint performance
decrease fatigue
increase strength
improve cycling sprint performance

Hormone Function Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
increase levels of growth hormone
increase levels of growth hormone releasing hormone

Recovery Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
improve recovery
reduce muscle damage

Dosing

The Supplement Database includes 5 studies on arginine dosing. These studies indicate an effective dose is 500 milligrams per day. For a more detailed dosing analysis visit: Supplement Dosing for Arginine.

References

Title of Study
Acute l-arginine supplementation increases muscle blood volume but not strength performance
Acute l-arginine supplementation reduces the O2 cost of moderate-intensity exercise and enhances high-intensity exercise tolerance
Acute supplementation of L-arginine affects neither strength performance nor nitric oxide production
Arginine and antioxidant supplement on performance in elderly male cyclists: a randomized controlled trial
Arginine and ornithine supplementation increases growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 serum levels after heavy-resistance exercise in strength-trained athletes
Branched-chain amino acids and arginine improve performance in two consecutive days of simulated handball games in male and female athletes: a randomized trial
Branched-chain amino acids and arginine supplementation attenuates skeletal muscle proteolysis induced by moderate exercise in young individuals
Effects of acute supplementation of L-arginine and nitrate on endurance and sprint performance in elite athletes
Effects of Arginine Supplementation on Post-Exercise Metabolic Responses
Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals
Influence of chronic supplementation of arginine aspartate in endurance athletes on performance and substrate metabolism - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
L-arginine does not improve biochemical and hormonal response in trained runners after 4 weeks of supplementation
L-Arginine supplementation does not enhance blood flow and muscle performance in healthy and physically active older women
l-Arginine supplementation does not improve muscle function during recovery from resistance exercise
l-Citrulline supplementation improves O2 uptake kinetics and high-intensity exercise performance in humans
Oral L-arginine before resistance exercise blunts growth hormone in strength trained males
Pre-exercise arginine supplementation increases time to exhaustion in elite male wrestlers
The acute effects of L-arginine on hormonal and metabolic responses during submaximal exercise in trained cyclists
The Effect of Arginine or Glycine Supplementation on Gastrointestinal Function, Muscle Injury, Serum Amino Acid Concentrations and Performance During a Marathon Run
The Effect of Arginine or Glycine Supplementation on Gastrointestinal Function, Muscle Injury, Serum Amino Acid Concentrations and Performance During a Marathon Run
The effect of l-arginine supplementation on body composition and performance in male athletes: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial
The effect of oral arginine during energy restriction in male weight trainers