Is it possible to have sleep problems, disturbed amino acid balance or other side effects if you are taking nitrogen boosters? You will only get an answer to this and other questions related to the health and effectiveness of arginine importers if you read this material. Are you interested in a little “nitrogen” criticism?
Table of Contents
More details on the side effects of nitrogen boosters
Stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea
Oral administration of arginine and citrulline increases the local production of nitric oxide in the intestines and duodenum, which can be quite painful in certain circumstances. Gastroenterological toxicity was reviewed according to the digestibility of arginine, citrulline, cysteine and ornithine (which share the same transport mechanism) in connection with a number of clinical studies on the absorption of arginine dipeptides.
It turns out that the human dibasic system for absorption (transport) of amino acids has a high affinity to work well, but its capacity is not large enough, ie. difficult to absorb large amounts of amino acids and does so on a competitive basis. Clinical trials have a wide tested range of arginine intake: from 3 g / day to 100 g / day.
However, it is difficult to set a standard limit for the occurrence of these side effects. It is very rare for healthy athletes to take three to six grams of arginine a day.
Athletic diabetics taking arginine are less sensitive to this substance than healthy athletes, who are more likely to experience (in a higher percentage of studies) side effects when taking more than 9 grams of arginine in a single dose.
Most side effects are observed when taking more than 9 g of arginine in a single dose or more than 140 mg / kg. body weight and especially as part of daily supplementation with arginine in doses greater than 30 g / day.
People with ulcers and gastritis are more likely to experience this type of side effect than healthy people. In people with ulcers, bleeding may occur as a result of taking a large dose of arginine importers.
Headache and fluctuations in blood pressure
Arginine importers in nitrogen boosters have a direct effect on blood pressure. In young and healthy athletes with normal blood pressure, no dangerous pressure spikes are observed due to the intake of arginine importers, including when taken immediately before a pumping bodybuilding workout. Moderate lowering of blood pressure is more common with long-term use of nitrogen boosters.
However, with concomitant use of nitric oxide inhibitors and nitrogen boosters, a problem arises. Nitric oxide inhibitors are most commonly l-arginine methyl esters. The latter are used in drugs to control blood pressure and are prescribed to diabetics and people suffering from low blood pressure. The interaction of arginine precursors and blood-lowering substances may potentiate the lowering effect. Drinking alcohol in combination with nitrogen boosters can further lower blood pressure.
Taking nitrogen boosters in combination with supplements containing yohimbe extract can cause headaches and tremors.
People consuming large doses of caffeine (over 4 coffees a day) should avoid nitrogen boosters with additional caffeine content, otherwise there may be anxiety and a feeling of “ice ants / chills” on the skin.
Which medicines / substances should you not take nitrogen boosters with?
- ephedrine, ephedra based products or products with extracts of ma huang;
- Clenbuterol (syrup / pills), spray dispensers for asthmatics, etc .;
- diuretics – the risk of concomitant intake of nitrogen boosters in large doses and prolonged dehydration, which many bodybuilders practice before competitions can lead to: uncontrollable cramps, arrhythmia, hypertension, blood poisoning;
- Viagra or other erection stimulants;
- Cyclosporine;
- Ibuprofen.
Other side effects of nitrogen boosters
There is evidence that the use of nitrogen boosters can affect the onset of herpes. Prolonged intake of arginine importers in free form through nitrogen boosters can impair the amino acid balance in the body. Therefore, when taken for more than three weeks, it is desirable to use complex amino acids in parallel with arginine supplementation, taking into account the total dose of arginine taken daily with the recommended health and safety standards.
Is arginine really the main cause of elevated nitric oxide?
Theory of the arginine effect on nitric oxide:
Consumption of arginine -> production of nitric oxide -> dilation of blood vessels -> more nutrients reaching the muscles -> muscle strength and growth
Weaknesses of the theory according to David Barr:
- In order to feel a serious blood-filling effect, single doses in such a weight should be consumed that in most cases their oral administration leads to nausea and diarrhea. At low doses there is no effect.
- Doses below 10 g of arginine do not improve glycogen loading
- It is claimed that in most studies with a significant positive result are due to intravenous infusion of arginine solution
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The author cites a study in which no arginine (including in dietary proteins) was taken for six days and no nitric oxide deficiency was observed, so he shared his opinion that the scheme of action on the vasodilator in question was far from -complex than proclaimed by the manufacturers.
Does the type of arginine (alpha-ketoglutarate, hydrochloride, etc.) matter?
- The author claims that regardless of the form of arginine importers, they have a limited degree of digestibility (up to 70%) due to the limited limit of arginine transporting mechanisms of the digestive system, and oral administration with 30% higher dose than venous (in order to equalize of the dose) would lead to diarrhea, vomiting and local digestive problems.
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The author claims that there is no convincing evidence for substances that release arginine over time, ie. a time-loading arginine carrier, as the companies claim.
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An increase in prolactin has been found with arginine aspartate, which in turn has been associated with decreased testosterone levels.
Do you feel the nitrogen booster or … Placebo?
- Bar recalls that in a popular placebo study, people under placebo could reproduce (feel) up to 75% of the effect of a test substance, even if they took only water and sugar;
- He criticized the companies for openly advertising their nitrogen boosters, which had a “targeted placebo effect” that improved growth and athletic performance. A kind of people buying things that, whether they work or not, will work if they believe in it, relying on the effect of pumping.
Bar’s theory: “Arginine stimulates insulin synthesis, which stimulates blood supply!”
Consumption of arginine -> production of insulin -> production of nitric oxide -> dilation of blood vessels -> more nutrients reaching the muscles -> muscle strength and growth
- arginine is the amino acid that stimulates insulin secretion the most compared to other amino acids
- if you have low insulin sensitivity, you will have a hard time feeling nitrogen boosters, and if you are insulin dependent, they will not work
- in a study performed with 30 g of arginine and artificially blocked insulin secretory pathways, the vasodilating effect decreased by 33%
- alpha-ketoglutarate itself also stimulates insulin production
Conclusion: 2/3 of the pumping effect is due to insulin.
Sources used for – Nitrogen Boosters – Side Effects
- Grimble GK., “Adverse gastrointestinal effects of arginine and related amino acids.”, J Nutr. 2007 Jun; 137 (6 Suppl 2): 1693S-1701S. Review. PMID: 17513449 David J. Bar, “Consumer Alert: The NO2 / Arginine Scam” 1st and 2nd part, www.t-nation.com, 2004. ID = 556124 and 556939 More about
- David Bar: PhD student in the Medical Laboratory of Branched Amino Acid Metabolism at the University of Texas, licensed coach and NASA associate.
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