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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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L-Arginine and Improved Quality of Life

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 randomized controlled trials, L-arginine supplementation consistently showed small to large beneficial effects on quality of life in clinical populations. All 3 studies reported statistically significant improvements, with effects predominantly small in two studies and large in one. The most commonly studied dose range was approximately 1.66–5 g per day, with effects typically observed at 4–7 weeks (median study duration 49 days).

  • Effective dose range: 1.66–5 g per day
  • Studied populations: patients with stable COPD, head and neck cancer patients with radiation-induced oral mucositis, females diagnosed with PCOS

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). All studies were in specific clinical populations (COPD, cancer, PCOS), so generalizability to healthy individuals is uncertain. Doses and durations varied across studies.

Generated Jun 11, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • g/day: 1.66–5 (median 3.33, IQR 2.5–4.17) — 2 studies
Time to effect
Median: 7 weeks · IQR 5.5 weeks–3.9 months · Range 4 weeks–6.1 months — Reported in 3 of 3 studies
3 of 3 papers
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