L-arginine linked to maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels

In recent years, the amino acid L-arginine has received much attention from the scientific community, thanks to its numerous beneficial effects. The amino acid is a precursor to the metabolic product nitric oxide (NO), which was first discovered in the 1980s and ultimately led to the Nobel Prize for Medicine for the lead research team in 1998.

Since then, hundreds of studies worldwide have revealed a range of cardiovascular benefits of L-arginine, including lowering blood pressure, reducing bad cholesterol, preventing clotting, rebuilding and protecting arteries, and reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. While many L-arginine supplements are costly, averaging more than US$100 per month, a newer product, L-arginine Plus Cardio Health Formula, has reached the market at a much more affordable price of as low as $31.95. Thus, allowing consumers across the country to benefit from this very effective nutrient.

L-arginine Plus Cardio Health Formula is a potent proprietary blend of the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline, which work together to increase production levels of NO in the body. The efficacy of the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline in the cardiovascular system have been validated by many scientific studies. The Cardio Health Formula provides further health benefits with the addition of folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin K, vitamin D and 72 trace minerals.

Finally, it includes AstraGin, a trademarked 100% natural ingredient made from two plant species that have been used for thousands of years in Chinese herbal medicine, Panax notoginseng (also called sanqi or tianqi) and Astragalus membranaceus (also called huang qi). AstraGin has been shown to improve the absorption of amino acids by up to 66%.

Multiple studies have shown that supplementation with the ingredients contained in L-arginine Plus can help maintain lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol while maintaining the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. This in turn reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by reducing the buildup of a waxy substance called plaque, the cause of atherosclerosis (thickening of the vascular walls).

The ingredients in this product have also been shown to increase levels of NO, which has the ability to relax smooth muscle cells within the artery walls and widen blood vessels, a process called vasodilation, which helps to further improve blood flow. Healthy arteries depend on a thin layer of interior cells called the endothelium, where nitric oxide is produced. Being essential to the production of nitric oxide, supplemental L-arginine is a common management strategy for coronary artery disease in addition to the proper medical treatment. In fact, a study published in the May 2011 British Journal of Nutrition showed that L-arginine is even more effective in older individuals versus younger.

L-arginine Plus keeps its price significantly lower than its competitors by working on the business model of producing a superior product at a reduced price, with the strategy of expanded sales through increased volume. While the ingredients in L-arginine Plus have a history of safe use, as with any dietary supplement, when being treated for a medical condition, pregnant or nursing consumers should always consult with a healthcare provider before use. There may be more sensitivity to certain L-arginine side-effects in patients with liver or kidney disease, so individuals with abnormal liver or kidney function should only use it under a doctor's supervision.