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Health News Archive 446 - Diet and Weight Loss
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L-Arginine Reduces Fat and Waist Circumference

Researchers, writing in the November 2006 American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism published a study demonstrating the weight-loss benefits of high doses of the amino acid L-Arginine.

Thirty three obese patients with elevated blood sugar consumed a low-calorie diet and exercised for 21 days. Subjects were then divided into two groups. The first group received 8.3 grams a day of L-arginine; the second group received placebo.

At the end of the study, those who took L-arginine had a statistically significant decrease in adipose fat mass and waist circumference, with statistically significant improvements in mean daily glucose profiles. Study authors indicated that long-term oral L-arginine supplementation resulted in an additive effect, compared with the diet and exercise program alone. Researchers further noted that arginine improved function within the lining of artery walls and reduced oxidative stress in obese patients with elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance.

Source: Lucotti P, Setola E, Monti L, Galluccio E, et. al. Beneficial effects of a long-term oral L-arginine treatment added to a hypocaloric diet and exercise training program in obese, insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic patients. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 291: E906-E912, 2006.

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