The NO released physiologically through arginine leads to a widening of the blood vessels and an inhibition of thrombocyte aggregation and adhesion. Because of this, the disposition for thrombotic transformations such as the breakdown of vascular plaque is decreased. Additionally, the formation of endothelial dysfunction is hindered. There is discussion that athletes under peak exertion benefit from these effects with clear improvements in performance. A further effect of NO is its protection of the body from intruders. Thus, macrophages produce large quantities of NO, which kill bacteria and cells. Improved immune response is a factor that should not be underestimated in the “system” of competitive sports, as it is often a determining factor between success and failure. The “open window phenomenon”, whereby athletes are more susceptible to infection in the phases both preceding and following competition, directly after physical exertion, is only one example supporting the importance of infection defense.

In a study by C. Calban et al. in 2000 it was shown that the substitution of arginine to normal nutrition in part could clearly lower the mortality rate in septic patients. D. K. Heyland et al., JAMA 2001 determined that, “Using commercial formulas with high arginine content were associated with a significant reduction in infectious complications and a trend towards a lower mortality rate compared with other immune-enhancing diets.”

The advantages for competitive athletes to substitute arginine in training become immediately clear upon examining studies concerning the knowledge of immune status. Furthermore, in recent years various research studies have shown the significance of arginine in the prevention and therapy of atherosclerotic heart and blood vessel conditions. High blood pressure is a defect that accompanies the arginine-NO-metabolism. With hypertonics, whose blood pressure is not completely normalized through the use of Enalapril (20 mg) and hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg), an additional nutritional-physiological administering of only 3 x 2 g arginine/d will further lower blood pressure. The blood pressure lowering effect of arginine is documented in numerous studies. In patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a supplementation of only 3 g arginine/d over four weeks already shows a reduction in hypertension with no side effects.

A further application of arginine is its effectiveness in lowering cholesterol. In a placebo controlled, double blind study, a drop in general cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was reported, whereby the HDL-cholesterol did not drop. The human organism can indeed synthesize arginine within the ornithine cycle; however the quantity is not sufficient to completely cover the needs of growing bodies, above all. Therefore, arginine is essential for children. But the autochthonous production of arginine in adults is also frequently insufficient.

Especially in the growth phase, under the effects of stress, with various diseases (for example, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, blood vessel diseases) or after accidents and under physical exertion the need for arginine exceeds the quantity that the human organism can produce. For this reason, today arginine is considered among the essential amino acids. Tyrosine, histidine, cysteine, serine, taurine and glutamine have also been considered as essential or of a conditionally essential character in the case of certain disease patterns. Tryptophane, on the other hand, is only necessary in very low doses and can be obtained in sufficient quantities through normal diet. According to the scientists, Nakagawa, Rose, Inoue and Hegsted, we only need the minutest quantities of tryptophane, as opposed to the other measured amino acids. It must also be observed that precisely through extended physical exertion the blood concentration of the double-chained amino acids is greatly reduced, facilitating the transport of tryptophane through the blood-cerebral barrier. Through this process more serotonin is created, which according to today’s perspective, can account for the fatigue that results from extended physical exertion. According to this, supplements with tryptophane would therefore be contraindicated – in other words, athletes should be discouraged from assuming it in addition to their normal diets. [Next page]