Arginine Cardio by Dr. Rainer Böger

1. Arginine Cardio: Evidence-based reduction of blood pressure (1) L-Arginine is the precursor of Nitric Oxide L-Citrulline potentiates the bioavailability of L-arginine Arginine Cardio is the L-Arginine supplement that has the highest L-citrulline Content Nitric Oxide causes vasodilation and thereby reduces blood pressure.

2. Arginine Cardio: Evidence-based reduction of blood pressure (2) L-Arginine is not being marketed by pharmaceutical industry with a multi million dollar budget for promotion. Clinical trials with L-arginine to lower blood pressure have been performed by independent academic research institutions, with small research budgets. Therefore, patient numbers in clinical trials with L-arginine are comparatively small. However, there is a recent meta-analysis summarizing clinical trials with L-arginine.

3. Arginine Cardio: Evidence-based reduction of blood pressure (3) 11 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involving 387 participants with oral L-arginine intervention ranging from 4 to 24 g/d […] Compared with placebo, L-arginine intervention significantly lowered systolic blood pressure by 5.39 mm Hg (95% CI −8.54 to −2.25, P = .001) and diastolic BP by 2.66 mm Hg (95% CI −3.77 to −1.54, P = .001). Dong et al.; American Heart Journal 2011

4. Placebo better L-Arginine better Dong et al.; American Heart Journal 2011

5. Placebo better L-Arginine better Dong et al.; American Heart Journal 2011

6. Dong et al.; American Heart Journal 2011

7. Arginine Cardio: Evidence-based reversal of atherosclerosis (1) Nitric Oxide has been known to protect from atherosclerosis ever since the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded for this finding in 1998. L-Arginine is the precursor of Nitric Oxide. Animal experiments have unequivocally proven in different models and in various laboratories around the world that L-arginine can reverse atheroslcerosis. Whilst no big, multinational studies could be performed with L-arginine due to lack of funding from public sources, multiple studies have shown reversal of endothelial dysfunction, the early clinical sign of atherosclerosis, by L-arginine. We have a collection of case reports that show reversal of atherosclerotic plaque in humans during a few months of L-arginine intake.

8. 60 55 50 45 A. carotis 40 * 35 30 25 20 Carotid intimal plaque area [% of total intima] # 15 Cholesterol 10 (0) 5 CONTROL CHOLESTEROL CHOL. 0 + L-ARGININE Cholesterol; treated with L-arginine Study A: Prevention of Plaque Build-Up Design: Cholesterol + L-Arginine Cholesterol Control 0 weeks 8 Results: Böger et al., Atherosclerosis 1995; 117: 273 – 284

9. Study B: Stopping the Progression of Plaque Build-Up Cholesterol + L-Arginine Design: Cholesterol Cholesterol Cholesterol + Lovastatin Control Control 0 weeks 10 16 4 Results: 50 40 „Dietary L-arginine completely suppressed the aggravation of intimal plaque formation during the second part of the study Lovastatin treatment significantly reduced the progression of plaque formation but did not completely block it.“ 30 -92% Intimal plaque area (carotid artery) [%] 20 10 0 0 weeks 16 4 Böger et al., Circulation 1997; 96: 1282-1290

10. Study C: Reversal of Pre-Existing Plaque Design: Cholesterol Cholesterol Cholesterol + L-Arginine Cholesterol 0 weeks 23 10 18 Results: 75 60 „This is the first demonstration that restoration of NO activity can induce regression of preexisting intimal lesions and provides evidence that L-arginine therapy may be of potential clinical benefit “ 45 Intimal plaque area (carotid artery) [%] 30 15 0 0 weeks 23 10 18 14 Candipan et al., Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 1996; 16: 44-50