L-Arginine enhances aerobic exercise capacity in association with augmented nitric oxide production

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 2001-03, Vol.90 (3), p.933-938
• Main Authors: Maxwell, Andrew J, Ho, Hoai-Ky V, Le, Christine Q, Lin, Patrick S, Bernstein, Daniel, Cooke, John P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerobiosis; Animals; Apolipoproteins E - deficiency; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Apolipoproteins E - physiology; Arginine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Creatinine - urine; Dietary supplements; Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia; Exercise; Female; Hypercholesterolemia - genetics; Hypercholesterolemia - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Nitrates - urine; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Physical Exertion - drug effects; Physical Exertion - physiology; Proteins; Rodents; Stereoisomerism
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2001.90.3.933

Section of Vascular Medicine, Divisions of 1  Cardiovascular Medicine and 2  Pediatric Cardiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 We tested whether supplementation with L -arginine can augment aerobic capacity, particularly in conditions where endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) activity is reduced. Eight-week-old wild-type (E + ) and apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (E ) were divided into six groups; two groups (LE + and LE ) were given L -arginine (6% in drinking water), two were given D -arginine (DE + and DE ), and two control groups (NE + and NE ) received no arginine supplementation. At 12-16 wk of age, the mice were treadmill tested, and urine was collected after exercise for determination of EDNO production. NE mice demonstrated a reduced aerobic capacity compared with NE + controls [maximal oxygen uptake ( O 2 max ) of NE  = 110 ± 2 (SE) vs. NE +  = 122 ± 3 ml O 2 · min 1 · kg 1 , P