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L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/l-arginine/AN01605
- With Mayo Clinic emeritus hypertension specialist
Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
Sheldon Sheps, M.D.
Dr. Sheldon Sheps, emeritus professor of medicine and former chair of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension in the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1960.
Dr. Sheps, a Winnipeg, Manitoba, native, is board certified in internal medicine and specializes in hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases. He developed a multidisciplinary approach with specially trained nurses, dietitians, technicians and educators to help form a team approach to the treatment of patients with abnormal blood pressure.
"I have always believed in involving the patient and family in their health care," Dr. Sheps says. "I have asked for their understanding of the illness and issues and for participation in decisions. The Web is a natural extension of that, and now many more people can be informed."
Dr. Sheps chaired the sixth working group, and he participated in the fourth, fifth and seventh groups that developed the then-latest guidelines for hypertension under the auspices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). He helped write the latest American Heart Association (AHA) report on blood pressure measurement. He chaired an AHA group that produced an online accreditation for blood pressure measurement for health professionals.
Dr. Sheps has co-authored books, newsletters, CD-ROMs and other Mayo Clinic health information material. He joined Mayo Clinic's Web team in 1998. He was medical editor-in-chief of both editions of the "Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure" book; the last edition was published in 2003. He was also medical editor-in-chief of "Mayo Clinic 5 Steps to Controlling High Blood Pressure," published in 2008.
In addition, Dr. Sheps was section editor for each of the first three editions of "Hypertension Primer" for the American Heart Association.
Dr. Sheps was also chairman of the Science Base Subcommittee and the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, and he was a consultant to the Hypertension Initiative of the World Health Organization. In 1997, he was honored with the Individual Achievement Award on the 25th anniversary of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program of NHLBI. In 2009, he was honored as a Distinguished Mayo Alumnus.
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Question
L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
Can L-arginine supplements lower blood pressure?
Answer
from Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
L-arginine (AHR-jih-nene) is a substance that's available in supplements, and is plentiful in foods such as nuts, red meat and dairy products. Some people take L-arginine because it can widen your arteries. It's thought that perhaps this widening might help lower your blood pressure. However, there's no evidence this is true.
Your body usually makes all the L-arginine it needs, and taking a supplement is rarely necessary.
L-arginine supplements can interact with some medications, including nitroglycerin and high blood pressure medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. People who have had cold sores or genital herpes also shouldn't take L-arginine supplements, because having too much L-arginine in your system can trigger the virus that causes those conditions.
If you want to reduce your blood pressure, talk to your doctor about treatment options, including healthy lifestyle changes. If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before starting any new herbal or nutritional supplements.
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- L-arginine. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 7, 2011.
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