Effectiveness of L-Arginine & L-Ornithine in Increasing Adolescent Height
Explore the potential benefits and limitations of L-Arginine & L-Ornithine supplements for height growth in adolescents. Discusses growth hormone production, dietary impacts, and cautionary advice for supplementation.
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is it effective to increase the heigh of adolescents
The effectiveness of L-Arginine and L-Ornithine in increasing the height of adolescents is not well-established, though there are some promising aspects related to growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels.
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Growth Hormone and IGF-1 Production: Studies indicate that L-Arginine and L-Ornithine supplementation can increase levels of GH and IGF-1 in adults and strength-trained individuals12. GH and IGF-1 are important for stimulating growth in bones and tissues, which could theoretically contribute to height increases.
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Dietary Arginine and Linear Growth: A study focusing on children did suggest a significant association between dietary arginine intake and growth velocity3. This suggests that adequate intake of arginine could be beneficial for normal growth patterns in children.
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Limitations and Concerns: Despite these promising findings, the direct impact of L-Arginine and L-Ornithine supplementation on height in adolescents has not been firmly established. There's a lack of targeted studies on adolescents, and most research involves other populations or focuses on general growth hormone response4. Moreover, excessive supplementation can have side effects like gastrointestinal discomfort5.
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Caution with Supplementation: Notably, supplementation should be approached with caution, particularly in adolescents. The use of amino acids and hormones for growth should ideally be supervised by a healthcare professional to avoid potential side effects and ensure overall nutritional balance6.
In conclusion, while L-Arginine and L-Ornithine have potential benefits related to growth hormone levels that might impact height, current research is insufficient to conclusively recommend these supplements specifically for increasing the height of adolescents.
Footnotes
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Zajac, A. et al. "Arginine and Ornithine Supplementation in Resistance-Trained Athletes," PubMed, 2024. ↩
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Oh, H.S., "Effects of l-arginine on growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1," PubMed Central, 2017. ↩
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van Vught, A.J.A.H., "Dietary arginine and linear growth: the Copenhagen School Child Intervention Study," PubMed, 2013. ↩
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Tam, C.S., "Increased human growth hormone following oral consumption of an amino acid supplement," PubMed Central, 2024. ↩
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Guyda, H.J., "Use of dietary supplements and hormones in adolescents: A cautionary tale," PubMed Central, 2024. ↩
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Ibid. ↩
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