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Reference Guide
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Arginine
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Arginine
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Arginine

What's 
Arginine
?
Arginine, also known as L-arginine, is a vital amino acid that plays a key role in maintaining your body's overall health. It's a building block for proteins, which are crucial for the growth, repair, and upkeep of body tissues. Arginine also helps trigger the release of insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. Moreover, it's a starting point for nitric oxide, a molecule that helps widen blood vessels, supporting healthy blood flow throughout your body. Your body naturally produces arginine, and you can also get it from food sources like meat, dairy, and legumes.
If Your Levels Are High
Elevated Arginine levels might mean that your body is making more of this amino acid than it requires, or you could be eating a lot of foods rich in Arginine, like meat, dairy, and legumes. Some medications, such as heart health drugs or those for erectile dysfunction, can also raise Arginine levels. In certain cases, high Arginine could point to a metabolic imbalance or an issue with how your body creates proteins. It's important to remember that while Arginine is generally good for your health, too much of it might throw off the balance of other amino acids in your body.
Symptoms of High Levels
Symptoms of high levels of Arginine are generally not specific and can vary widely. They may include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and diarrhea. In some cases, high Arginine levels could also lead to changes in blood pressure due to its role in blood vessel dilation.
If Your Levels are Low
Low levels of Arginine might mean that your body isn't making enough of this important amino acid, or maybe your diet isn't giving you enough of it. This could happen for different reasons, like if you're eating a lot of protein but not balancing it with other nutrients, or if you have health issues that make it hard for your body to create or take in Arginine properly. Some medicines might also mess with your Arginine levels. It's possible that you could have issues with your gut health, which can make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients, or there might be something off with your body's metabolism that's affecting how much Arginine it makes.
Symptoms of Low Levels
Symptoms of low levels of Arginine may include poor wound healing, hair loss, skin rashes, constipation, and fatigue.

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