Men don't like to talk about the topic. You probably don't either. Nevertheless, erectile dysfunction is a widespread suffering. Almost every man can face this condition at some point in his life. It is estimated that it already affects 10% of 40 to 49-year-olds, and in the group of men over 60, one in three has to deal with an erectile dysfunction.
Problems with potency put a strain on men themselves, but also on their relationships. Medicines in this area are one possibility. However, they are usually associated with many side effects and do not lead to the desired success for every man. That's why many men are looking for gentle and
natural support for their potency.
In recent years, one amino acid has become the focus of interest: L-arginine.
Find out more about this amino acid and its function in the human organism. We would like to give you an overview of what L-arginine might do for you if you have an erectile dysfunction problem.
Amino acids and disorders with potency
Our organism depends on
amino acids and proteins . These substances are then converted into other substances. It's not just the tissue structure that depends on them. Various metabolic functions also depend on them.
Functions of protein building blocks
Amino acids or protein building blocks form peptides and proteins in long chains. They thus act as
- Building materials for every body tissue.
- basis for the formation of enzymes,
- Basis for hormones.
- Starting substances for messenger substances.
Our immune system, our thyroid, our sleep-wake rhythm and many other processes in our body depend on the presence of certain protein building blocks. For example
, amino acids are said to be able to help with sleep disorders .
Some of the protein building blocks have to be supplied with the diet (essential), others are produced by our organism itself (
non-essential amino acids ). Another group are
semi-essential amino acids and are “
only ” essential in certain phases of life. L-arginine is also one of these semi-essential protein building blocks.
Erectile dysfunction
By far the most common potency disorder is an
erection problem -
erectile dysfunction . Over a long period of time, it is repeatedly impossible to build an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. The reasons for this erectile dysfunction can be varied. Psychological problems, relationship disorders, but also illnesses such as diabetes mellitus can play a part.
With
erectile dysfunction, you may also suffer from coronary heart disease.
Damage to the heart vessels is often accompanied by erectile dysfunction. In many cases, deposits in the delicate coronary arteries become noticeable as a potency disorder years before a heart attack.
It is assumed that erection problems for many men up to the age of 50 are of a psychological nature. Whereas in older men it is 80% due to physical causes.
You are probably also familiar with medicines such as
Viagra or Cialis . They intervene in a material system that controls the interaction of various neurotransmitters in the development of an erection. You may also have heard about potential dangers and side effects that can be associated with Viagra and the like.
These medicines can be life-threatening, especially for men of advanced age with heart disease or other serious organic illnesses.
L-arginine and its functions
L-arginine is involved in the formation of nitrogen monoxide (NO) in the human organism. Nitric oxide, for its part, plays an important role in relaxing muscles and blood vessel walls. In its presence, there is increased blood flow throughout the body's vascular system and thus also in the penis.
Increasing blood flow promotes erection
In most cases, erection problems are associated with reduced blood flow to the penis. During an erection, there is increased blood flow, especially to the erectile tissue in the male penis. This increased blood flow usually causes the penis to stiffen and swell. As people get older,
circulatory problems generally increase in many men.
Diabetes and/or deposits in the blood vessels particularly affect the many fine vessels. These can be found in the extremities and penis. L-arginine can increase blood flow throughout the entire vascular system. Many men report a positive effect on their potency problems.
Various
studies seem to confirm this effect.
How does arginine support an erection in detail?
A
stable erection is caused by a complex interaction between muscles, blood vessels, nerve stimuli and messenger substances. The male penis contains erectile tissue that fills with more blood for an erection.
If the penis is not erect, its smooth muscles are tense so that too much blood does not flow into the erectile tissue.
During an erection of the male penis, the smooth muscle has to relax so that the erectile tissue fills with blood, swells and the penis stiffens. This relaxation of the muscles is triggered by NO and leads to vasodilation.
Many people with
high blood pressure and strength athletes building muscle also report a positive effect when taking L-arginine.
L-arginine, needs and supply
This protein building block is only essential for infants and adolescence. That's why it is also one of the semi-essential protein building blocks. The protein building block can be absorbed from many plant and animal foods. However, all foods contain chemically bound arginine. This means that arginine is integrated into other proteins when consumed through food and is not freely available.
This fact means that L-arginine is not available in sufficient quantities in many adults. The body first has to release it from other compounds in a complicated process. This is a
limiting factor for the availability of free arginine.
This means that there must always be enough connected protein to release arginine. In the case of certain ailments such as vascular diseases, the need can increase so much that it can no longer be met even with a balanced diet. The need is increasing sharply, especially among older people. In these cases, an additional supply of L-arginine is advisable.
L-Arginine does not work alone
Research on arginine in connection with erection disorders has shown that its effect benefits from the presence of another protein building block. According to current findings, L-citrulline appears to be able to stabilize and prolong the effect of arginine.
Essential amino acids , such as L-arginine, have a specific
interaction with lysine. Lysine and arginine, for example, both target specific receptor sites in the human organism.
Arginine also plays a role in the metabolism of viruses, such as the herpes viruses. Therefore, a high dose of arginine can lead to reactivation of these viruses with the characteristic cold sores. Lysine counteracts this effect. It is therefore often recommended not to take L-arginine in high doses in complete isolation if there is a predisposition to herpes outbreaks.
Finally, other amino acids are important for the formation of arginine in the human body. Arginine is formed in the uric acid cycle. If sufficient amounts of other protein building blocks are present, they ensure sufficient nitrogen compounds. Arginine can in turn be synthesized from these.
How much arginine per day is needed for erectile dysfunction?
There are no standardized dosage recommendations for arginine to support male erections. Experience has shown values of up to 10-14 g per day. However, some people are likely to experience significant side effects after 15 g intake, for example in the gastrointestinal area.
That's why some preparations recommend a dose between 3 and 6 g. The normal requirement of a healthy person is already set at values between 1 and 5 g per day.*
This relatively wide range between the
recommended values alone shows how uncertain the requirements for this protein building block are. Experts assume that in many life situations the need for L-arginine must be set higher than previously assumed. These assumptions are not yet scientifically supported by studies.
What is particularly important for you is your individual experience with a specific dosage. Test slowly to find out which dose is right for you. This means you can see for yourself whether and in what dose arginine can help you with your erectile dysfunction.
Uwe Gröber, Orthomolecular Medicine: A Guide for Pharmacists and Doctors; 3rd ed. (2008); p. 179 ff.;
Lothar Burgerstein, Burgerstein's Handbook of Nutrients; 11th ed. (2007); p. 235 ff.;
Uwe Groeber; Micronutrients: Metabolic Tuning – Prevention – Therapy; 3rd ed. (2011); p. 307 ff.
The recommendations of these standard works correspond to the known studies.>
Naturally and gently support erectile function
If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, it's probably worth giving L-arginine a try. It is a good way to alleviate this stressful situation.
This amino acid can also have a positive effect on your entire vascular system. This can play a role, especially if you are a little older.
L-arginine has been able to help many men suffering from erection problems. And all of this without the sometimes life-threatening side effects of medicinal substances such as Viagra. Choose a high-quality product that does not contain any technical additives and, if possible, was manufactured under controlled laboratory conditions.
The product should - if possible - be produced in Germany, as strict quality standards and controls apply here. Especially when it comes to men's potency, there are many dubious products on offer. Products from the Far East in particular may contain dangerous additives.
Be patient when using L-arginine. Some users report that an effect only becomes apparent after taking it for several weeks or even months. For minor potency problems, the short-term use of a product containing the protein building block has often proven to be effective.
Longer and permanent use of L-arginine can be recommended for men of advanced age.
If in doubt, consult your treating doctor. Many doctors are positive about the use of L-arginine for erectile dysfunction. Since every problem with erectile function has an individual character, your doctor can advise you on this.
Try it out for yourself !
