L-Arginine Side Effects and Safety Concerns
L-Arginine Side Effects
As with any type of dietary supplement, it is always recommended that you consult with your doctor before using Arginine supplements. That being said, the ingredients are considered safe.
There are some potential side effects, although they are generally minimal.
- It may potentially cause bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, and headaches. Those who take too much can experience stomach acid due to the production of the hormone gastrin.
- Also, it can cause some side effects such as allergies, airway inflammation, worsening of asthma, blood abnormalities, and low blood pressure. Consult with your doctor.
Not recommend for certain groups of people.
- As of yet, studies regarding benefits or effects of L-Arginine have not been conducted on children. Children already have plenty of the amino acid in their blood; therefore, supplementation is recommended only for adults (age 18 and older).
- Also pregnant and nursing women should not take the supplement; the Arginine they get naturally from food sources is fine but taking extra amounts in pill or liquid form may cause problems.
If you have any medical conditions, consult your doctor before using any dietary supplement.
- People with diabetes or with genital herpes should check with their doctor before taking these supplements as it may worsen the condition.
- Since additional Arginine may inflame the airway, supplements are not recommended if you have asthma.
- Because Arginine lowers blood pressure, do not take supplements if you already have low blood pressure as it may cause it to go too low.
- Do not take at least 2 weeks before surgery as it might affect blood pressure.
- If you have had a recent heart attack, do not take supplemental Arginine. There is a concern that it might increase the risk of death after a heart attack, especially in older people.
If you are currently using prescription medications, consult your doctor before using any dietary supplement.
- Taking L-Arginine along with medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) may cause your blood pressure to go too low.
- Taking L-Arginine with medications that increase blood flow to the heart (Nitrates) might increase the chance of dizziness and lightheadedness.
- If you’re taking medications such as Zantac or Viagra, you should ask your doctor if it’ll be safe for you to also take these supplements.
Arginine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body and is mostly found in foods, such as legumes, dairy products, seeds, and nuts. Since not all adults have healthy diets, liquid arginine, or L-Arginine, can be taken as a supplement. However, because everybody has different nutritional needs, there is no recommended dose for L-Arginine supplements. In general, men and women only need the recommended daily dose of 5,000 mg to get meaningful health benefits. However, supplements should only be taken for short-term solutions – for no more than six months. Click here to learn more about getting the proper dosage for you.
Click here to get answers to other frequently asked questions about L-Arginine.
