Secratatropin ingredients 3

Another ingredient contained in Secratatropin is L-Arginine. Arginine was first isolated from a lupin seedling extract in 1886 by the Swiss chemist Ernst Schultze.

Arginine is an α-amino acid. The L-form is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids. In mammals, arginine is classified as a semiessential or conditionally essential amino acid, depending on the developmental stage and health status of the individual.

Preterm infants are unable to synthesize or create arginine internally, making the amino acid nutritionally essential for them. There are some conditions that put an increased demand on the body for the synthesis of L-arginine, including surgical or other trauma, sepsis and burns.

Arginine is a conditionally nonessential amino acid, meaning most of the time it can be manufactured by the human body, and does not need to be obtained directly through the diet. The biosynthetic pathway however does not produce sufficient arginine, and some must still be consumed through diet. Individuals who have poor nutrition or certain physical conditions may be advised to increase their intake of foods containing arginine.

Necessary for the production of protein, L-arginine also helps rid the body of ammonia (a waste product) and stimulates the release of insulin. In addition, L-arginine is used to make nitric oxide (a compound that relaxes the blood vessels). Although some studies suggest that L-arginine may benefit certain health conditions, other research shows that L-arginine may have harmful effects on some individuals.

Arginine is found in a wide variety of foods, including:
- Animal sources
Dairy products (e.g., cottage cheese, ricotta, milk, yogurt, whey protein drinks), beef, pork (e.g., bacon, ham), gelatin , poultry (e.g. chicken and turkey light meat), wild game (e.g. pheasant, quail), seafood (e.g., halibut, lobster, salmon, shrimp, snails, tuna).

- Plant sources
wheat germ and flour, buckwheat, granola, oatmeal, peanuts, nuts (coconut, pecans, cashews, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pinenuts), seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), chick peas, cooked soybeans, Phalaris canariensis (canaryseed or ALPISTE)

Uses of L-Arginine
Proponents claim that L-arginine can benefit:
- colds
- congestive heart failure
- dementia
- erectile dysfunction
- high blood pressure
- intermittent claudication
- interstitial cystitis
- male infertility
- migraines
- preeclampsia
- sexual dysfunction in women

Some people also use L-arginine to boost the immune system, improve athletic performance, and shorten recovery time after surgery. L-arginine is also used for bodybuilding.

Function
Arginine plays an important role in cell division, the healing of wounds, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones. Arginine taken in combination with proanthocyanidins or yohimbine, has also been used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

The benefits and functions attributed to oral supplementation of L-arginine include:
- Precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide
- Reduces healing time of injuries (particularly bone)
- Quickens repair time of damaged tissue
- Helps decrease blood pressure

Treatment of herpes simplex virus
An unproven claim is that a low ratio of arginine to lysine may be of benefit in the treatment of herpes simplex virus.

Potential medical uses
- Lung inflammation and asthma
The Mayo Clinic web page on L-arginine reports that inhalation of L-arginine can increase lung inflammation and worsen asthma.

- Growth hormone
Arginine may stimulate the secretion of growth hormone, and is used in growth hormone stimulation tests. However, more recent research suggests that oral preparations of l-arginine are ineffective at increasing growth hormone levels despite being effective at increasing plasma levels of l-arginine.

- MELAS syndrome
Several trials delved into effects of L-arginine in MELAS syndrome, a mitochondrial disease.

- Sepsis
Cellular arginine biosynthetic capacity determined by activity of argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) is induced by the same mediators of septic response — endotoxin and cytokines — that induce nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the enzyme responsible for nitric oxide synthesis.

- Malate salt
The malate salt of arginine can also be used during the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis and advanced cirrhosis.

- Pre-eclampsia
A preliminary study of supplementation with L-arginine and antioxidant vitamins showed that this combination may help to combat abnormally high blood pressure during high risk pregnancies.

- Hypertension
A recent meta-analysis showed that L-arginine reduces blood pressure with pooled estimates of 5.4/2.7 mmHg for SBP/DBP.