Natures Aid Aid L-Arginine 750mg (90tabs)
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This has 750mg of L-arginine per tablet. This is what's called a conditionally essential amino acid (your body can usually make itself, but not always enough).
It is used to make nitric oxide. This is the molecule that relaxes blood vessels and regulates blood flow.
This supplement is popular for cardiovascular health, exercise performance, and circulation.
The 90-tablet pack is a three-month supply at one tablet a day and is one of the more widely stocked amino acid supplements in Irish pharmacies.
What L-Arginine Does
It is one of the 20 standard amino acids. It is classed as conditionally essential, meaning the body can usually make it but may need extra under stress, during illness, or in older adults.
Most research focuses on this supplement being a building block for nitric oxide (NO).
Nitric Oxide regulates blood vessel dilation, blood flow and cardiovascular tone. Research suggests this amino acid helps with cardiovascular health, exercise performance, and erectile function in men, though evidence quality varies by use case.
Research on Nitric Oxide
There is a lot of studies on NO and its benefits to the body. Some of the more notable ones are:
- Webb et al., 2008 found “Acute blood pressure lowering, vasoprotective, and antiplatelet properties of dietary nitrate via bioconversion to nitrite”
- Bailey et al., 2009 found “Dietary nitrate supplementation reduces the O₂ cost of low-intensity exercise and enhances tolerance to high-intensity exercise in humans”
- Lansley et al., 2011 found “Acute dietary nitrate supplementation improves cycling time trial performance”
How Nitric Oxide Works
In simple terms the mechanism of action is: Nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax and widen, which improves blood flow around the body.
In scientific terms:
Nitric oxide works mainly through the blood vessel lining,
called the endothelium.
The body makes nitric oxide from L-arginine using an enzyme
called nitric oxide synthase, with oxygen and NADPH involved in the reaction.
Nitric oxide then signals to an enzyme called soluble
guanylate cyclase, which increases cGMP, a messenger that tells the smooth
muscle around blood vessels to relax.
When those vessels relax, they widen, blood flows more
easily, and oxygen and nutrients can reach working muscles and tissues more
efficiently.
The body can also make nitric oxide from dietary nitrates, such as those found in beetroot and leafy greens, through the nitrate- nitrite - nitric oxide pathway.
The nitrate- nitrite - nitric oxide pathway
Nitrate is absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream. Then your salivary glands actively pull some of that nitrate from the blood back into saliva. Tongue bacteria convert nitrate into nitrite. That nitrite is swallowed and can become nitric oxide in the stomach, blood and tissues, helping blood vessels relax.
This has to be one of the most “mad pathways” for a body to get nutrients.
Uses of L-Arginine
It has a number of uses:
- Cardiovascular health in midlife adults, where nitric oxide production naturally declines.
- Exercise performance. It is popular with gym-goers for its role in pump and blood flow to muscles.
- Erectile function in men, where research on this supplement (often combined with pycnogenol) has shown some benefits.
- Traditional immune and wound-healing use.
Benefits of Nature's Aid L-Arginine
- 750mg L-arginine per tablet, a standard clinical trial dose
- Single amino acid without unnecessary additives
- 90-tablet pack for three months at one daily
- Vegetarian and vegan suitable
- For general use: 1 tablet daily with food
- For cardiovascular use: 1 to 2 tablets daily
- For exercise: 2 to 4 tablets 30 to 60 minutes before training
- Swallow whole with water
- 90-tablet pack lasts three months at one daily
- Best Time to Take L-Arginine
With food for general use. For exercise, 30 to 60 minutes before training. For cardiovascular use, consistency matters more than exact timing. Some users take it evenings for its relaxing vasodilator effect.
How Long for L-Arginine To Work
Exercise effects (pump, blood flow) are often noticed from the first dose. Cardiovascular and erectile effects typically build over 4 to 8 weeks of daily use. Blood pressure changes, where they occur, show at 6 to 12 weeks.
FAQs: Nature's Aid L-Arginine
What does L-arginine do?
It is the direct precursor (building block) to nitric oxide, which regulates blood vessel dilation and blood flow. Research suggests it affects cardiovascular health, exercise performance and erectile function.
How much L-arginine should I take?
- For general cardiovascular use, 1 to 2 tablets daily
(750mg to 1500mg).
- For exercise use, typically 3 to 6g daily split across
doses.
- For erectile function research doses are often 5g daily.
Follow current label guidance.
Does L-arginine work for erectile dysfunction?
Research on this supplement, particularly combined with pycnogenol, has shown modest benefits for mild erectile dysfunction. It is not a medicine and should not replace GP assessment of persistent ED.
When should I take L-arginine for exercise?
Most gym users take it 30 to 60 minutes before training for pre-workout blood flow effects.
Can I take it with blood pressure medication?
It may further lower blood pressure. Speak to your pharmacist before combining with antihypertensive medication.
Is Nature's Aid L-Arginine a medicine?
No. It is a food supplement, not a medicine. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any condition.
Is L-arginine safe after a heart attack?
Do not take this after a heart attack without cardiology team agreement. Its not for everyone so check with your pharmacist before starting this.
Is L-arginine vegan?
Yes. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Supplements to Take with L-Arginine
- Pycnogenol for combined research on erectile function and circulation
- CoQ10 for mitochondrial (energy centres in every cell of your body) and cardiovascular benefits (lower BP and better blood flow)
- Omega-3 EPA and DHA for cardiovascular benefits
- Magnesium for muscle relaxation and cardiovascular
- Beetroot extract as an alternative nitric oxide precursor
Drug Interactions of L-Arginine
- Low blood pressure: it may further lower blood pressure be aware of this if you are taking blood pressure tablets
- Avoid taking L-arginine with Viagra as both can increase blood-flow effects and may lower blood pressure too much.
Avoid L-arginine if you have angina or take nitrate medicines, unless your doctor specifically says it is safe, because combining blood-flow agents can drop blood pressure dangerously.
FYI: Natures Aid Aid L-arginine
- Herpes (cold sores, genital): this supplement may cause viral reactivation in susceptible people; L-lysine is the opposing amino acid often used for herpes management
- Heart attack (recent or history): do not take without cardiology agreement
- Asthma: rare reports of worsening; discontinue if reaction
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: check with pharmacist
- Kidney disease: speak to pharmacist before starting
- Before surgery: stop at least 2 weeks before elective surgery as it increases the risk of bleeding
- Store in a cool, dry place out of reach of children.
