How much l arginine to lower blood pressure

Some people take L-arginine supplements to relax and open arteries, which might help lower blood pressure. However, L-arginine supplements are rarely necessary and may only benefit people who have a true deficiency.

Research on L-arginine has had mixed results. The most recent research suggests that L-arginine may lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol and improve overall blood vessel health. A review of several studies found that adults with high blood pressure who took daily L-arginine supplements lowered their bottom diastolic blood pressure number by about 2 to 3 millimeters of mercury mm Hg.

When it comes to heart health, L-arginine may work better when combined with other vitamins, such as vitamins B6 and B However, larger, more-robust studies are needed to confirm these findings before experts can recommend everyday use of these supplements. It's important to know that L-arginine supplements can interact with some medications, including:. Don't take L-arginine if you've had a heart attack. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address.

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Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. This in turn leads to the dilatation of the blood vessels and improved blood flow. Nitroglycerin, a medication commonly given to cardiac patients, has a similar mechanism of action.

It too is converted into nitric oxide, which then leads to dilated blood vessels, improved blood flow, and consequently lower blood pressure and less angina. Nitroglycerin, whether as a spray, a pill, or a patch has been well studied in cardiology whereas arginine has much less evidence behind.

To some extent arginine, like nitroglycerin, can help lower your blood pressure. However, the magnitude of this benefit appears to be quite small and arginine only seems to lower your blood pressure by a few points. Thus the clinical significance of this blood pressure lowering is debatable.

Also, the existing trials should be interpreted with caution given their small size in total 11 trials only comprised patients as small trials are more prone to random error skewing the results. Also the varying doses of arginine used make any comparisons and attempts to combine the data statistically tricky.

But the most important factor to consider is that lowering your blood pressure is not the endpoint you should be keeping in mind.

Physicians try to lower blood pressure, not as an end in and of itself but for the purpose of preventing heart attacks and strokes.

A JAMA study did in fact look at arginine vs. In fact, arginine often carries a health warning that you should not take it if you have recently had a heart attack.