L-Arginine

Wanna know what is arginine and how it helps in bodybuilding. Then you're at right place. Lately, L-Arginine is the hottest amino topic around, for the moment. Arginine is added to many supplements for its amazing nitrogen retention ability. Nitrogen as you are all aware is one of the key elements in muscle protein synthesis. read on to know more.

Some plants can absorb nitrogen, but we mammals have to make do with the stuff we make ourselves. Arginine is mostly present in protanines and histones, two proteins commonly associated with nucleic acids (like DNA and RNA). So far, its main use was for newborns to excite new growth, because at a young age its difficult to manufacture enough.

It enhances the immune system, and stimulates the size and activity of the thymus gland (responsible for the famous "T-cells"), which makes it a prime choice for anyone in a condition that is less than optimal for health, such as people recovering from injury and HIV patients.

The hormonal release properties include releasing insulin from the pancreas and a massive stimulator in the manufacture of GH from the anterior pituitary. But for GH, the metabolite arginine pyroglutamate because it passes the brain-blood barrier more easily.

It is often linked to sexual stimulus, with the notion that it may lengthen and improve orgasms. It is found in seminal fluid and was often used in studies to enhance the male sexual health and put forward as a cure for sterility.

So very useful in this day and age of environmental estrogens and not to be overlooked by steroid-users looking for a post-cycle boost. It also improves the health of the liver, skin and connective tissues and may lower cholesterol.

But mostly it facilitates muscle mass gain while limiting fat storage, because it keeps fat alive in the system and uses it. It's key in weight control.

© Rohan Bhardwaj