L-Arginine Supplementation Did Not Impact the Rapid Recovery of Cardiovascular and Autonomic Function Following Exercise in Physically Active Healthy Males: A Triple-Blind Randomised Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.
- 2024-11-27
- Nutrients 16(23)
- Andrey Alves Porto
- Luana Almeida Gonzaga
- Felipe Ribeiro
- Camila Marcondes de Oliveira
- Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei
- Vitor Engrácia Valenti
- PubMed: 39683461
- DOI: 10.3390/nu16234067
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Population
- 32 healthy individuals
- Methods
- Two experimental protocols: 60 min rest, treadmill warm-up, load increments until 80% max HR; subjects consumed 3 g starch (placebo) in one protocol and 3 g L-ARG in the other
- Blinding
- Single-blind
- Rigorous Journal
Background and aims
Post-exercise recovery strategies include massage, low-intensity active exercise, thermal contrast, hydration, and nutritional and herbal approaches. These strategies aim to accelerate recovery, enhance performance, and optimise the physical training process. L-arginine (L-ARG) is the physiological precursor of nitric oxide (NO), a crucial mediator of vasodilation and the inhibition of platelet aggregation. A previous study reported that L-ARG supplementation could significantly reduce the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This study aimed to investigate the effects of L-ARG on autonomic and cardiovascular recovery immediately following submaximal exercise.Methods and results
Thirty-two healthy individuals were subjected to two experimental protocols. The first protocol included 60 min of rest, a treadmill warm-up, and load increments until reaching 80% of their maximum HR. Before this protocol, the subjects consumed 3 g of starch (placebo protocol). The second protocol was identical, but the subjects consumed 3 g of L-ARG. Heart rate recovery (HRR), heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure (BP) responses were assessed. No significant differences in HRR were found (p = 0.944) regarding the root mean square of successive differences in the RR interval (RMSSD30) of HRV (p = 0.562) or in the BP responses (mean arterial pressure (MAP), p = 0.687; pulse pressure (PP), p = 0.929) between the protocols.Conclusions
L-ARG supplementation did not significantly alter immediate post-exercise autonomic recovery in healthy males.Research Insights
No significant differences in HRR were found (p = 0.944) regarding the root mean square of successive differences in the RR interval (RMSSD30) of HRV (p = 0.562) or in the BP responses (mean arterial pressure (MAP), p = 0.687; pulse pressure (PP), p = 0.929) between the protocols.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3 g
No significant differences in HRR were found (p = 0.944) regarding the root mean square of successive differences in the RR interval (RMSSD30) of HRV (p = 0.562) or in the BP responses (mean arterial pressure (MAP), p = 0.687; pulse pressure (PP), p = 0.929) between the protocols.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3 g
No significant differences in HRR were found (p = 0.944) regarding the root mean square of successive differences in the RR interval (RMSSD30) of HRV (p = 0.562) or in the BP responses (mean arterial pressure (MAP), p = 0.687; pulse pressure (PP), p = 0.929) between the protocols.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3 g
No significant differences in HRR were found (p = 0.944) regarding the root mean square of successive differences in the RR interval (RMSSD30) of HRV (p = 0.562) or in the BP responses (mean arterial pressure (MAP), p = 0.687; pulse pressure (PP), p = 0.929) between the protocols.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3 g