The Impact of Oral L-Arginine Supplementation on Acute Smoking–Induced Endothelial Injury and Arterial Performance

• Published in: American journal of hypertension 2009-06, Vol.22 (6), p.586-592
• Main Authors: Siasos, Gerasimos, Tousoulis, Dimitris, Vlachopoulos, Charalambos, Antoniades, Charalambos, Stefanadi, Elli, Ioakeimidis, Nikos, Zisimos, Kostas, Siasou, Zoi, Papavassiliou, Athanasios G., Stefanadis, Christodoulos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Arginine - administration & dosage; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Brachial Artery - diagnostic imaging; Brachial Artery - drug effects; Brachial Artery - physiopathology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cross-Over Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Experimental diseases; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - etiology; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - physiopathology; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - prevention & control; Reference Values; Smoking - adverse effects; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Vasoconstriction - drug effects; Vasoconstriction - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1038/ajh.2009.57

Background Smoking is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased inflammatory status. The amino acid L-arginine, improves endothelial function in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. We investigated the effect of L-arginine on vascular function and inflammatory process in healthy smokers at rest and after acute smoking. Methods We studied the effect of L-arginine and/or placebo in 12 healthy young smokers on three occasions (day 0, day 1, and day 3). The study was carried out on two separate arms, one with L-arginine (3 × 7 g/day) and one with placebo, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design. Measurements were carried out before, immediately after, and 20 min after cigarette smoking. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of aortic stiffness and augmentation index (AIx) and as a measure of arterial wave reflections. Serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) was measured. Results Compared to placebo, L-arginine improved FMD (P < 0.01 at day 1 and P < 0.05 at day 3). L-Arginine reduced PWV and AIx at both days 1 and 3 (P < 0.05 vs. baseline). L-Arginine blunted the acute smoking–induced increase of AIx at both day 1 (P < 0.05) and day 3 (P < 0.01), and prevented the smoking-induced elevation of PWV at day 3 (P < 0.05). Importantly, L-arginine reduced sICAM-1 at days 1 and 3 (P < 0.05 for both vs. baseline). Conclusions Oral L-arginine improves endothelial function and vascular elastic properties of the arterial tree during the acute phase of smoking, an effect accompanied by reduced sICAM-1 levels in these subjects.