Acta Pharm. 50 (2000) 151-156
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether long-term administration of L-arginine, a physiological substrate for the production of nitric oxide (NO), improved blood pressure and decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. The study covers 64 patients of both sexes (41 men and 23 women) with mild-to-moderate essential arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. Per os administration of semi-essential amino acid L-arginine at a dose of up to 3 g per day for 8 weeks induced a decrease of blood pressure with vasodilatation and reduced the total peripheral vascular resistance in patients with essential arterial hypertension (p < 0.001). Moreover, L-arginine decreased the level of cholesterol (p < 0.001) and triglycerides (p < 0.05). According to the positive therapeutic effects, L-arginine may be assumed an important antihypertensive and hypolipaemic amino acid.
Keywords: L-arginine, nitric oxide, arterial hypertension,hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia