Pharmacological effects of arginine supplementation in rats with Walker 256 solid tumor.

The effects of diet arginine supplementation for those with cancer are cont roversial. We evaluate the effects of dietetic supplementation with arginin e over body weight, growth of tumor, metastatic dissemination, surviving ti me, amino acid metabolism haematological changes of the rats with Walker 25 6 solid tumor. Intragastrical solutions with arginine at 4% and 6%, a stand ard diet (control) were administered to the animals. The supplementation wi th arginine was associated with a lower weight gain during the study period (p<0.05). Surviving time of the rats with solid tumor did not vary signifi cantly between the groups. The rate of metastase was lower in animals with Walker 256 solid tumor supplemented with arginine. The amino acid metabolis m was estimulate in the animals after arginine supplementation at 4% and 6% , demonstrated by significant increases in blood levels of arginine, orniti ne, citruline, proline and histidine when compared to the control group. An aemia was less severe in the rats with Walker 256 solid tumor that received arginine supplementation. The results suggest that arginine 6% supplementa tion may have pharmacologic effect in rats with Walker 256 solid beyond the nutritional one.