An amino acid supplement does not benefit after heart attack

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Use of the amino acid L-arginine is not helpful after a heart attack and, indeed, it could even be harmful.
Previous research has suggested that L-arginine could help reduce the stiffness of blood vessels. The supplement is also promoted for the treatment of high blood pressure, angina, heart failure and sexual dysfunction. A team at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions now reports on a study of giving L-arginine to patients after a heart attack.

They gave a group of 77 patients aged 60 or more either L-arginine - up to three grams a day - or placebo for six months. All had experienced a specific type of heart attack called STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction). The researchers found that L-arginine did not reduce the stiffness of blood vessels, nor did it improve heart functioning. On the contrary, those on L-arginine were more likely to die than those on the placebo. Six in the arginine group died, none in the placebo group. Clearly, there is no point in giving L-arginine to heart attack survivors and it may even do some harm.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 4th January 2006 Volume 295 pages 58-64