Question
Can you tell me how to use L-Arginine? I got a big bottle of it for Christmas (300g), and was told it would be useful in putting on mass. How much will it boost GH??
Answer
The honest truth is that Arginine has its uses, but in no way does it really “add mass” the way greater caloric intake or even training more consistently will.
It just isn’t that kind of product
In the mid to 1980’s, the sports nutrition world was all abuzz about how it could increase Growth Hormone.
That was primarily due to the efforts of Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw in their book, Life Extenision. To a lesser extent, the now defunct bulk powder supplier Beyond A Century made trying gram amounts practical by offering 300, 600 and kilo amounts of L-Arginine powder.
All that glowing evidence for GH release had one thing in common though: Massive amounts were given intravenously. The products on the shelves then, however, were all orals.
And as many of us were about to find out, L-arginine pills and powders were an expensive experiment that didn’t do jack. They don’t work now either, at least when it comes to greater GH levels.
The Problem
You need massive amounts (in most cases 10 to 30g on an empty stomach) to get any effect.
Take it from somebody who knows: That tastes like battery acid, gives you the runs and will leave you wishing you sprang a little extra for the Charmin.
The alkaline taste was so bad, BAC sold a companion product called “Yuck Away”. Which was a very acidic lemon lime something or other you were supposed to mix with it. It was more Yuck than Away BTW…
Oral Dose Research
Almost all available research on 6 to 10g oral doses of L-Arginine agrees: There’s no noticeable improvement in performance.
When consumed prior to resistance training, Arginine did not seem to significantly change the levels of Growth Hormone (GH), ghrelin or Insulin Growth Factor (IGF1).
There is some evidence for a decrease in the levels of somatostatin (GHIH) and cortisol but again, no practical effect in that translating to improved body comp, athletic performance etc.
Yes, you will find evidence that Nitric Oxide levels rise, but things like L-Citrulline or beet root powder do it better, are much easier on the stomach and usually at only a slightly higher pricepoint.
Since you have a bottle though, let’s try and find a use.
One study looking at endurance athletes and fighting sports found the combination of branched amino acids, L-arginine and Citrulline, improved performance in competitions during consecutive days.
Personally I think the Citrulline and BCAA are contributing the most, but co-administration of Arginine couldn’t hurt.
One final note: High doses of L-Arginine can cause herpes outbreaks, so having some Lysine on hand if that proves to be the case would prove wise IMO.
Hope that helps.
