How to Boost Your HGH Levels: Can Arginine Help?

Human growth hormone is the body’s most influential hormone. When its levels decline, breakdowns in performance can occur throughout the body.

One of the most essential functions of HGH is cellular regeneration and tissue growth and repair. 

Growth hormone deficiency is responsible for numerous signs of aging that impede a healthy life. Muscle and bone loss due to decreased growth hormone production weaken the body’s structural integrity, increasing the risk of injury and fractures. Decreased cell regeneration results in impaired blood cell production, increasing the risk of anemia and poor immune system functions. 

Why Are Normal HGH Levels Important?

HGH works directly on various areas of the brain to support cognitive functions and emotional well-being. It influences sexual hormone production, fertility, and sexual performance and desire. HGH and IGF-1 regulate energy metabolism and promote insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake by the cells. 

Here are some of the ways normal HGH levels benefit the body:

• Increase exercise capacity

Better circulation (red blood cell and nitric oxide production) and increased glucose uptake provide the muscles with more oxygen and energy. Improved heart health increases exercise capacity. 

• Improve bone density

HGH plays a crucial role in bone remodeling, ensuring enough new blood cells are ready to replace those that die off. Keeping strong bones helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. 

• Build muscle mass

HGH performs the critical role of tissue repair during sleep when the most significant amount of growth hormone enters the bloodstream. Growth hormone helps stimulate cell reproduction to maintain and build lean muscle. L-arginine helps promote the required protein necessary for muscle mass and HGH production. 

• Reduce body fat 

When growth hormone levels are low, many GH receptor cells do not receive the stimuli necessary to engage their actions. One such action is the stimulation of carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. People with low HGH levels often struggle to lose stored fat. Instead, they gain weight. Normal HGH levels help improve metabolic functions to aid weight loss. Check out the HGH results timeline to discover all the HGH benefits.

• Improves mental state and cognitive performance

Growth hormone receptors in the brain stimulate learning, processing, and memory sensors. GH receptors also help ensure balance with neurotransmitters, keeping endorphin levels where they should be for emotional well-being. 

Why Arginine?

Arginine, or L-arginine, is an amino acid the body uses to build protein. The body produces arginine naturally, and it is also found in protein-rich foods.

L-arginine is considered a semi-essential (conditionally essential) amino acid, meaning that while the body can produce it, you must also provide external sources in your diet. The body produces nonessential amino acids but requires dietary intake for essential ones. L-arginine is semi-essential because it becomes essential (requiring external sources) during circumstances such as critical illness, trauma, infancy, and pregnancy.

Consuming arginine-rich foods can help provide the body’s cells with crucial proteins necessary for functions such as:

• Cell regeneration and repair
• Tissue repair
• Food breakdown and digestion
• Cellular functions

L-arginine comes in oral, topical, and intravenously (IV) administered forms. In addition to L-arginine supplements, you can also get arginine from food. 

The best food sources for arginine include:

• Dairy: cheese, milk, yogurt
• Fish: haddock, salmon
• Legumes: chickpeas, soybeans
• Meat: chicken, red meat, turkey
• Nuts and seeds: almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds
• Whole grains: brown rice, oats

Benefits of Arginine

Arginine has many benefits for the body, especially during critical illness. Depletion of arginine levels following surgery or illness can impede blood flow and immune functions. L-arginine supplements can help restore arginine levels to improve wound healing, infections, chronic disease, trauma, and pre- and post-surgery recovery.

Other benefits of arginine include:

• Nitric oxide production

L-arginine is vital for nitric oxide production, which helps regulate blood flow by relaxing blood vessel cells, cellular communication, and mitochondrial functions. Nitric oxide helps provide oxygen to the muscles, making it beneficial for athletes and exercise enhancement. 

• Amino acid precursor

Arginine is essential for immune system functions (T-cell development) and the production of amino acids such as creatine, glutamate, and proline. 

• Increase HGH production and speed HGH synthesis

L-arginine inhibits somatostatin, the hormone that reduces human growth hormone production. Arginine significantly increases HGH and insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) secretion from GH3 and HepG2 cells, respectively. HGH is a direct stimulator of IGF-1 production in the liver, and L-arginine increases HGH and IGF-1 expression at the gene and protein levels.

• Blood sugar regulation

L-arginine may help improve blood sugar levels as nitric oxide helps the body respond to insulin, which promotes glucose uptake by the cells. 

• Acts as a vasodilator

L-arginine helps to dilate blood vessels to improve circulation, making it beneficial for erectile dysfunction (due to circulatory issues) and certain heart and health conditions, including angina, high blood pressure, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Oral and intravenous L-arginine administration can decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.

• Pregnancy

L-arginine infusions may help low blood pressure in women who develop hypertension or preeclampsia during pregnancy. Oral L-arginine might help prevent preeclampsia for those at risk. 

Side Effects of Arginine Supplement

L-arginine is considered a safe supplement for most people, but as with any supplement, it is not without side effects. Knowing the potential issues that could arise before taking arginine is crucial. Larger doses of over 9 grams of L-arginine are more likely to cause side effects and should not be taken unless medically prescribed and supervised for adverse reactions.

Side effects of oral arginine supplementation include:

• Nausea
• Bloating 
• Cramps and abdominal pain
• Dizziness 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea
• Gout 
• Headache 

Potential life-threatening side effects of arginine include:

• Allergic reactions (itching, hives, or rash)
• Inflammation in the airways – difficulty breathing
• Asthma symptoms worsening
• Low blood pressure
• Tightness in the chest
• Heart failure 

Interactions with certain drugs or contraindications for other health conditions exist, so it is crucial to talk to a doctor before adding arginine to your routine.

Do not use arginine without speaking to your doctor if any of the following exist:

• Recent heart attack (increased risk of death with arginine use)
• Asthma or allergies (worsening of symptoms can occur)
• Genital herpes or cold sores (excessive arginine in the system can trigger these viruses)
• Kidney disease
• Cirrhosis of the liver 

Potential pharmaceutical interactions include:

• Blood pressure medications and supplements

Since arginine lowers blood pressure, combining it with other herbs, medications (including Isoproterenol), or supplements that do the same can cause blood pressure to drop dangerously low. Avoid using L-arginine with cat’s claw, CoQ10, fish oil, stinging nettle, and theanine. 

• Nitrates

L-arginine usage in combination with this chest pain medication can cause a significant lowering of blood pressure levels. 

• Anticoagulants, anti-platelet medications, and supplements

Because these herbs, supplements, and medications inhibit blood clotting, using L-arginine can increase bleeding risk in people taking blood thinners. Supplements that should not be used with L-arginine include angelica, clove, turmeric, garlic, ginkgo biloba, and Panax ginseng.

• Erectile dysfunction medications

Viagra, Cialis, and Revatio usage with L-arginine can cause blood pressure levels to drop dangerously low. 

• Diabetes medications and supplements

Close monitoring by a doctor is crucial as L-arginine can lower blood sugar levels in people taking medications, herbs, or supplements to treat diabetes. Medication dosages may require adjustments. Supplements such as fenugreek, guar gum, Panax ginseng, and Siberian ginseng help reduce blood sugar and should not be used with L-arginine. Avoid xylitol use with arginine, which could cause low blood sugar. 

• Water pills

Potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride, spironolactone, and triamterene can increase potassium levels and, when taken with L-arginine, can cause hyperkalemia (abnormally high blood potassium levels). 

Conclusion

L-arginine has many benefits and should be taken between meals to maximize absorption. Some people may prefer L-citrulline instead of L-arginine, as it is a precursor amino acid to arginine production. This is because the liver and gut metabolize L-arginine quickly, often before it can benefit systemic circulation. L-citrulline to L-arginine conversion occurs in the kidneys and may raise arginine levels better than L-arginine supplements. 

The benefits of L-citrulline are similar to those of L-arginine, including athletic performance, erectile functions, muscle recovery, and reduced blood pressure. Your doctor can help determine if amino acid supplementation is recommended for you and, if so, which one. 

Knowing that L-arginine is crucial for growth hormone production can help determine if boosting HGH with arginine supplementation can benefit your body.

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