Author: Slauta Alexander - sports nutrition specialist and gym trainer | more details >> Graduated from: Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after M. Tank. Specialty: social work, pedagogy. Courses on health-improving fitness and bodybuilding at the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture, at the department of health-improving physical culture. Master of Masters in arm wrestling, 1st adult category in hand-to-hand combat. Prize-winner of the Cup of the Republic of Belarus in hand-to-hand combat. Prize-winner of the Republican Dynamyade in hand-to-hand combat.
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Our body cannot carry out all the physiological processes occurring in it without amino acids. Amino acids are broken down protein, ready to be absorbed into the blood. The body needs these substances in the right quantities.
Some (essential) we get from food, others (essential) are synthesized in the body. However, if you exercise regularly and lead an active lifestyle, your need for essential and non-essential amino acids increases. And that's why we need to take them in the form of dietary supplements.
In this article I will talk about such an amino acid as ornithine. Let's figure out what functions it performs and how to take it and combine it with other supplements.
Benefits of ornithine
- During the synthesis process, excess amino groups (ammonia) are bound;
- The ornithine cycle is a reaction for the neutralization of nitrogenous waste;
- Maintaining normal acid-base balance;
- Stimulation of insulin production.
An excess of this substance can cause harm - a shift in blood pH to the acidic side, hypoglycemia (a sharp decrease in blood glucose), excess urea, which is a toxic substance.
What is ornithine for?
The main purpose of the drug ornithine is to support the processes of neutralizing nitrogenous waste in the liver. Therefore, it is prescribed for various diseases of this organ - cirrhosis, severe fibrosis, liver failure, including severe forms of these diseases, manifested by precoma or coma.
Interesting fact: Liver disorders most often manifest themselves with nonspecific symptoms, and one of them is hepatic encephalopathy.
Ornithine aspartate is prescribed for various conditions when it is necessary to reduce the load on the liver - with protein deficiency and the need for parenteral nutrition, with a shift in the acid-base state of the blood to the alkaline side. For research purposes, it is used to assess the dynamics of the pituitary gland. It is useful for healthy people to take L-ornithine aspartate (this form is best integrated into biochemical processes) to reduce the formation of adipose tissue and improve metabolic processes in muscle tissue, therefore it is used for weight loss and accumulation of muscle mass.
Lack of arginine and ornithine
Often, self-synthesis of L-arginine is not sufficient to meet the daily requirement for the amino acid L-arginine. This is also problematic in that L-ornithine can only be produced using L-arginine.
Causes
A deficiency of the amino acids L-arginine and L-ornithine is possible, especially during the growth phase and during pregnancy. As a result of injuries such as burns or other injuries, sales of L-arginine for wound healing are also increasing. Often self-synthesis is not enough. The amino acids should then be taken orally with food or, if necessary, with nutritional supplements.
Instructions for use of ornithine
The instructions for using ornithine indicate that an adult should take one sachet or tablet 3 times a day. The duration of the course of treatment is prescribed by the doctor - it depends on the condition of the liver. For preventive purposes, two-week courses are prescribed every six months, for therapeutic purposes - if necessary. For athletes, the dosage and duration of the course are individual - it is selected by the trainer depending on the intensity of training and the desired result.
Pregnancy or childhood are not listed as contraindications. During these periods, the medicine can be used as prescribed by a doctor. For those who play sports, it is not advisable to use ornithine to improve results.
How to take arginine preparations?
- It is recommended to take on an empty stomach or 2 hours after meals. It is not recommended to take after too fatty and protein foods. After taking it, do not eat for another 2 hours.
- Try buying arginine tablets (some kind) first to understand how it works for you. If you notice the actions that I listed at the beginning, you can try ordering it in powder. Powder usually costs less per quantity and begins to work faster than tablets. But the taste, as I already said, is specific. If you order it straight away in powder and don’t like the taste, then you won’t be able to drink it for at least a couple of weeks, which means you won’t have time to wait for the results.
- On training days, take arginine before physical activity and before bed, 3–5 g; on rest days, take 3–5 g only before bed. I once tried combining arginine with creatine on training days to increase endurance and strength, and on rest days arginine with ornithine for better recovery. I like it. These combinations work great, you can use them.
- Drink plenty of water (300–500 ml)
- The effect of the tablets occurs in about an hour, from the powder - in half an hour. Take this into account to choose the best appointment time.
- It is not advisable to take it constantly. The body quickly gets used to amino acids and therefore there is no point in taking them in long courses.
Let me explain the last point. When I took arginine with citrulline, the effect was noticeable only in the first week of taking it, pure arginine is the same. Starting from the second week, there were almost no results. As a result, I started taking it only on training days, that is, 3 times a week, 3 grams before bed. After a week of “unloading” use, I started taking it every day again and the sensitivity increased. In my opinion, alternating “unloading/loading” for 1 week is a good way to constantly get results from taking arginine.
Contraindications
The ornithine formula is a natural substance that is synthesized in the human body, so there are few contraindications to its use. It should not be taken in case of severe liver failure - urea, which is synthesized in the ornithine cycle, is excreted by the kidneys, and its excess can negatively affect the functioning of the affected kidneys. Allergic reactions in the form of rash, nausea and vomiting are possible. If they occur, you need to discontinue the drug. There are no reports of serious cases of overdose, but exceeding the dose may lead to deterioration of well-being.
How to minimize side effects?
Arginine from natural foods is the least harmful. Of course, if you don’t eat half a kilo of seeds and nuts. This will make your liver howl quickly. When there is no fanaticism, everything is fine. Plus, amino acids are absorbed perfectly in this form.
The main side effect of injections is that if you receive them for a long time and often, the pituitary gland will exhaust its resource and stop secreting hormones normally. I repeat, it is better not to approach injections without a doctor.
What are the side effects of taking oral medications?
Norm of arginine, ornithine and citrulline per day
equal to approximately 4 g for a child and 6 g for adults. It doesn't matter where you get this quantity from. Side effects begin when the dose of any amino acid exceeds 10 grams per day.
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age are not recommended to use these amino acids in supplements of more than 2 grams per day. Doctors explain this by saying that they may stimulate growth hormone too much. How dangerous this is, I don't know. Probably, in some cases, yes.
In general, side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and headache. These drugs can activate the herpes virus. Mostly arginine. If you have active herpes, then arginine, ornithine, citrulline should be combined with lysine or not taken at all. Lysine suppresses the development of herpes.
Not recommended for schizophrenia. Pregnant women and nursing mothers.
If you have low blood pressure, you do not need to take arginine. It dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure even more.
Arginine can provoke pancreatic diseases. Exceeding 10 grams per day increases this likelihood. If your stomach hurts after taking the supplement, it would be better to stop taking it. When I took arginine for the first time, I encountered pain in my stomach and left side. It immediately became clear what was going on and I stopped taking the supplement for a while. After 2 weeks I started taking it again, then there was no more pain.
It is highly advisable to have enough antioxidants in your diet along with arginine. These may include antioxidants from foods such as fresh fruits and greens. Can be in the form of supplements: coenzyme q10, lipolic acid, vitamin C. This way you will be able to reduce the harmful effects of free radicals that will inevitably appear if you receive a lot of arginine, especially in the form of pharmacology.
Ornithine release forms
The most convenient form of release of the medicine is a sachet for preparing a solution. They contain sufficient amounts of L-ornithine aspartate for medicinal or sports purposes. A prescription is not needed for this drug - it can be bought at a pharmacy or sports store. For patients with exhaustion and severe liver pathologies, infusion forms (intended for intravenous administration) are used. In such cases, L-ornithine aspartate is included in blood substitute drugs (Aminoplasmal, Infezol 100, Hepa).
How can you increase arginine and all its metabolites in the body?
The first option - the safest and healthiest - is obtained from natural foods. The leaders here are pumpkin seeds (4 grams of arginine per 100 grams of product), sesame seeds (3.5 per 100), pine nuts (3 per 100).
If you choose for children, then pumpkin seeds, in my opinion, are the best option. In addition to arginine, they contain a lot of zinc, iron and antioxidants, which will be useful during the period of active growth.
The second option is to receive it by injection. Arginine injections increase growth hormone tenfold. For this reason, by the way, doctors use injections to determine the state of growth hormone and the functioning of the pituitary gland in humans. But doing this without a doctor, especially for a long time, there is a high probability of harming yourself.
The third option is tablets and powders. The option is good, but it has its drawbacks. Firstly, digestibility is only 20–30%. Secondly, not everyone likes the smell and taste of arginine in its pure form.
There are different forms of arginine. I prefer the AAKG form - arginine or extended-release arginine attached to an alpha-ketoglutarate molecule. AAKG maintains elevated nitric oxide levels longer than pure arginine and is better absorbed. Pure arginine and arginine + ornithine are also normal.
Manufacturers
Preparations with ornithine and arginine (the combined effect of the two amino acids is much higher) are produced by several pharmaceutical companies. The market leader is Evalar, a company specializing in natural medicines. The drug Hepatrin-Detox is intended to support liver functions, and Amino Complex is intended for use in sports.
Hepatrin-Detox is a drink with ornithine, inositol and taurine. The medicine is intended to neutralize nitrogenous wastes. L-ornithine is found in the form of aspartate, which is the most beneficial compound for the liver. Available in powder form in special sachets for brewing. To use the medicine, you need to dissolve the contents in water and prepare a drink.
Interesting fact: The ornithine cycle is the only reaction in which nitrogenous wastes, the products of protein decomposition in the body, are neutralized.
SportExpert Amino Complex is also available in sachet and taken as a drink. The product contains arginine, ornithine and lysine; before taking, you should consult your trainer and sports doctor. The medicine promotes the accumulation of muscle mass and the breakdown of fat, helps to form a beautiful relief.
Therapeutic effect of arginine
Arginine belongs to the category of amino acids that are produced in the body only under certain conditions. With the slightest pathology, the body does not have time to cope with the production of arginine. And then it must be taken in the form of dietary supplements.
The process of protein synthesis in the body is constant, but in the case when at least one essential amino acid is missing, their formation is suspended, and due to the impossibility of implementing many biochemical processes, this leads to the development of various diseases.
In addition, the body’s ability to synthesize arginine decreases with age; from the age of 35 it is necessary to purposefully replenish its amount in the body.
With arginine deficiency, nervous and mental disorders occur, weakened immunity, persistent hypertension, weakened memory, diabetes mellitus, malignant neoplasms, functional disorders of the reproductive system including impotence, diseases of internal organs, fatty infiltration of the liver, slow growth and puberty, obesity.
Arginine relaxes the smooth muscles of all blood vessels, ensures normal blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart muscle, brain, and limbs.
It dilates blood vessels and increases their blood flow. It is not without reason that in Japan, Greece and Israel, cardiologists inject arginine directly into the coronary artery of patients with angina pectoris, which dramatically restores blood circulation.
Arginine strengthens the immune system, as nitric oxide stimulates the production of macrophages and necrophil cells that absorb low-quality, dead cells and remove them from the body. Arginine contributes to a sharp increase in the activity of cells in the defense system of our body.
Arginine helps with cancer by slowing down the growth of benign and malignant tumors. Thanks to the normalization of hormonal levels, the development and resorption of hormone-dependent tumors (fibroids, fibroids, mastopathy, etc.) and thyroid nodules is inhibited.
Arginine performs detoxifying functions, removing toxins from the body and preventing them from accumulating. In fact, this amino acid is a biological assistant for the kidneys, improving blood purification.
Arginine accelerates the healing of wounds, tendon sprains, and bone fractures.
Arginine has a remarkable psychotropic effect. Arginine can heal and regenerate nerves.
Arginine increases libido, increases potency and stimulates spermatogenesis.
This amino acid is necessary for the normal functioning of the pituitary gland and the production of growth hormone.
Arginine is necessary for anyone who seriously cares about beauty and longevity. Good metabolism and rapid tissue repair make people younger and more energetic. By providing the body with a daily and sufficient intake of Arginine, we can prolong our life.
Sources of arginine
L-arginine is not considered an essential amino acid, which must be supplied to the body through food. Like glutamine, it is a conditionally essential amino acid, the need for which increases under conditions of stress or during growth.
Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid. In an adult and healthy person, arginine is produced by the body in sufficient quantities. At the same time, in children and adolescents, in elderly and sick people, the production of arginine is often either insignificant or absent.
Natural sources of arginine are products such as soy, chocolate, and cocoa. Arginine is rich in watermelon, nuts, seafood, seaweed, oatmeal and wholemeal bread, raisins, sunflower and sesame seeds, brown rice and soy protein concentrate. For comparison, 100 grams of peanuts provide 2.5 g of L-arginine.
What foods contain ornithine?
Ornithine is quite difficult to obtain from foods. In the liver of animals it is contained in extremely small quantities and does not satisfy the need for this substance. Plant foods contain more ornithine. The leaders in its content are pumpkin seeds and royal jelly of bees. Most of the need for ornithine is compensated by its synthesis in the body. This is enough to maintain life processes in people with a healthy liver, but athletes need to take ornithine along with arginine and lysine.
Active fat burner
"Arginine Ornithine" is a drug that combines two essential amino acids for the normal functioning of the body. What are their features? Arginine is an amino acid that is produced in normal amounts in adults who do not have health problems. In elderly people and those suffering from various diseases, its synthesis is insufficient. Ornithine is a natural component of the body, without which the transport of certain beneficial substances to organ systems is impossible.
Reviews about ornithine
According to doctors, ornithine is a valuable element in the complex treatment of liver diseases. It is taken at any stage of the disease, including hepatic encephalopathy and deep coma (in this case, intravenous administration is required). Athletes consider preparations with ornithine to be part of a complex of medications that can significantly improve results. These drugs are not considered doping if the athlete does not participate in competitions, but strives to achieve an ideal figure for himself. There is no need to expect quick results, but the achievements remain stable.
Interesting fact: Many drugs banned in sports are used by amateur athletes to improve performance.
Effect of arginine on growth hormone.
A lot of research has been done on this. I will now give you some of them. The effect of arginine in combination with other amino acids was also studied.
The first study looks at what dose is optimal for increasing growth hormone. We took 3 groups of people. They were given an oral arginine supplement. The first group received 0.04 g of arginine per kg of body weight per day, the second – 0.16 g, the third – 0.28 g.
During the experiment, it turned out that growth hormone increased best in people from the second group. In the first group, growth hormone did not increase enough. In the third group, people often experienced diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset. If a person weighs 75 kg, then 12 grams of arginine per day will give the best effect on his growth hormone, the researchers concluded.
The best results were for those people who were not overweight, but had good physical shape and endurance.
Another experiment, in addition to taking arginine, also included lysine - 1.2 g of each substance. This combination increased growth hormone several times. Read more here.
A combination of arginine and ornithine taken before bed shows good results. Ornithine itself can increase growth hormone. According to some reports, it does this even more powerfully than arginine. If they are taken together, a synergistic effect is obtained.
