Indicators of L-arginine metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors - A cross-sectional study in healthy middle-aged men

This study examines the relationship between traditional risk factors of co ronary artery disease and indicators involved in the metabolism of L-argini ne (plasma and urine L-arginine, plasma L-citrulline, serum creatinine and urine orotic acid). Our study population consisted of 40 healthy male volun teers aged between 35 and 55 years. We found an inverse association between serum creatinine and blood pressure, between plasma L-citrulline and blood pressure, as well as between urine L-arginine and blood pressure. We also found a positive association between plasma LDL-cholesterol and urine L-arg inine and a negative correlation between plasma L-arginine and LDL-choleste rol. Orotic acid measured from urine was not associated with any of the ind icators of L-arginine metabolism. Our results indicate that L-arginine meta bolism is of profound significance for cardiovascular health. However, our study does not answer questions relating to causality. Further studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship between cardiovascular risk facto rs, especially elevated blood pressure and high LDL-cholesterol, and indica tors of L-arginine metabolism.