LOS ANGELES, Apr 06, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Avid cyclists over the age
of 50 had an improvement in their performance after taking arginine
supplements for three weeks, according to a study just published in
the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
"As people age, their exercise capacity may decline - leading in turn
to a decline in overall fitness that can impact health," noted Luigi
Gratton, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Herbalife.
A group of 16 male cyclists, aged 50 to 73 years, were randomly
assigned to receive either the supplement (Niteworks; Herbalife
International, Los Angeles, CA) containing 5.2 grams of L-arginine, or
a look-alike placebo and instructed to continue with their usual
cycling regimen over the three week study period.
After three weeks, those taking the supplement had an increase in
their anaerobic threshold - the point at which lactate begins to
accumulate in the blood, leading to fatigue.
"Arginine is involved in the production of nitric oxide in the body,"
notes Gratton, "and nitric oxide has been associated with the
improvement of exercise performance through its beneficial effects on
the vascular system." As people age, production of nitric oxide
declines, so the researchers believed that arginine supplementation
could support the production of nitric oxide and enhance performance.
The anaerobic threshold of the study subjects was assessed both before
and after the three week study period. In those receiving the
supplement, their anaerobic threshold increased by 16.7% after one
week, and held steady during the three weeks, whereas those in the
placebo group experienced no change.
"This indicates a potential role for arginine in improving exercise
performance in older subjects," said Gratton, "and improved
performance could mean better fitness and healthier lives."
NOTE: The study, conducted at UCLA and funded by Herbalife, used
Herbalife's original formula Niteworks. The current product has a
slightly different formula, although no changes were made to the
active ingredients.
Niteworks was created based on research conducted by Lou Ignarro,
Ph.D., who received the Nobel Prize in 1998 for his work on nitric
oxide. Ignarro is a member of the company's Scientific and Nutrition
Advisory Boards.
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