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. 2004 Dec 31;1(2):35-8.
doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-1-2-35.

The ergogenic potential of arginine

Bill I Campbell  1 , Paul M La Bounty, Mike Roberts
Affiliations

The ergogenic potential of arginine

Bill I Campbell et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. .

Abstract

Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is involved in protein synthesis, the detoxification of ammonia, and its conversion to glucose as well as being catabolized to produce energy. In addition to these physiological functions, arginine has been purported to have ergogenic potential. Athletes have taken arginine for three main reasons: 1) its role in the secretion of endogenous growth hormone; 2) its involvement in the synthesis of creatine; 3) its role in augmenting nitric oxide. These aspects of arginine supplementation will be discussed as well as a review of clinical investigations involving exercise performance and arginine ingestion.

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