Arginine is considered a semi-essential amino acid because even though the body normally makes enough of it, supplementation is sometimes needed. For example, people with protein malnutrition, excessive ammonia production, excessive lysine intake, burns, infections, peritoneal dialysis, rapid growth, urea synthesis disorders, or sepsis may not have enough arginine. Symptoms of arginine deficiency include poor wound healing, hair loss, skin rash, constipation, and fatty liver.
Arginine changes into nitric oxide, which causes blood vessel relaxation (vasodilation). Early evidence suggests that arginine may help treat medical conditions that improve with vasodilation, such as chest pain, clogged arteries (called atherosclerosis), coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, heart failure, intermittent claudication/peripheral vascular disease, and blood vessel swelling that causes headaches (vascular headaches). Arginine also triggers the body to make protein and has been studied for wound healing, bodybuilding, enhancement of sperm production (spermatogenesis), and prevention of wasting in people with critical illnesses.
Arginine hydrochloride has a high chloride content and has been used to treat metabolic alkalosis. This use should be under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Activation of a specific part of the Dicer enzyme can change its shape in a way that affects its critical role in proper cell division, with implications for both cancer biology and fertility, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Protein droplets serve important biological functions within cells, but in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, these liquid-like droplets can form solid-like clumps known as fibrils.
A randomized cross-over pilot study in 10 amateur male triathletes found that a beetroot-based multi-ingredient nitrate supplement increased nitric oxide-related and redox biomarkers over 7 days without evidence of lipid oxidative damage. The supplement was generally well tolerated, but the study did not measure whether these biochemical changes improved performance or recovery.
Researchers highlighted how an arginine- and proline-restricted diet combined with eflornithine reprogrammed MYCN-driven neuroblastoma in mice, pushing tumor cells out of the cell cycle and toward differentiation. The commentary argues that this metabolism-to-translation link could open a new path for testing targeted dietary strategies alongside cancer drugs in future clinical studies.
This narrative review examines how Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, or prickly pear, may help target multiple features of metabolic syndrome through its fiber, betalains, polyphenols, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. The authors conclude that the fruit shows promising mechanistic and preclinical potential, but stronger human trials are still needed before firm clinical claims can be made.
Researchers analyzed molecular sensitization patterns in Polish patients with perennial allergic rhinitis who tested positive for cockroach allergens. They found that most apparent cockroach allergies were driven by cross-reactive proteins shared with mites, seafood, and other arthropods rather than true cockroach-specific allergens.
Lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs, best known as the delivery vehicle for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines received by billions of people, are now at the center of a much larger medical revolution.
Industrial yeasts are a powerhouse of protein production, used to manufacture vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and other useful compounds.
This mini-review synthesises evidence showing that adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing plays an important regulatory role in cardiovascular development, cellular homeostasis, and disease biology. It highlights emerging links between dysregulated RNA editing and cardiovascular conditions while outlining biomarker potential and reversible RNA-editing therapeutic strategies that remain under investigation.
Gifu University scientists have uncovered how a brain-specific enzyme reshapes protein-linked sugar chains to facilitate the formation of complex glycans essential for normal brain function.
New human clinical trial proves arginine, an amino acid, can modify plaque formation on teeth, thereby protecting against dental caries.
Arginine reduced amyloid beta aggregation in vitro and in both Drosophila and AppNL-G-F mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, leading to fewer dense-core plaques and improved behavior. The study provides preclinical evidence that oral arginine may modulate amyloid pathology, although high dosing requirements and model limitations constrain human translation.
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is one of the leading causes of dementia worldwide, and currently has no definitive cure. Although antibody-based therapies that target amyloid β (Aβ) have recently been developed, their clinical effectiveness remains limited.
The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) has published an open access Revised Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Chronic Hypoparathyroidism in Adults in the European Journal of Endocrinology, Volume 193, Issue 5, November 2025.
A research team from the University of Zurich and the University Children's Hospital Zurich has developed a new approach for treating children with malignant tumors of the nervous system.
Researchers reviewed the role of watermelon as a natural source of L-citrulline and its potential to improve cardiovascular health by enhancing nitric oxide production. While promising effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness were seen in at-risk groups, long-term and dose-specific studies are still needed to confirm clinical benefits.
A comprehensive peer-reviewed invited review published today in Psychedelics by Dr. Kenji Hashimoto and colleagues (Dr. Mingming Zhao and Dr. Jianjun Yang) synthesizes the evolving landscape of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, examining robust clinical evidence in treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder while identifying promising applications in autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, and existential distress
Mutations in a gene known as CPD play a crucial role in a rare form of congenital hearing loss, an international team of researchers has discovered.
A study links soft drink consumption to increased depression risk, highlighting gut microbiome changes, particularly in women. Learn more about the findings.
After blood vessel damage, effective blood clotting is essential to halt bleeding. However, this process is inefficient in some individuals due to hereditary factors. Hemophilia B, for example, results from a deficiency in coagulation factor IX (FIX), which can lead to prolonged bleeding after injuries or surgery.
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