Acute L-Arginine supplementation does not affect red blood cell aggregation and deformability during high intensity interval exercise in healthy men.

BACKGROUND: L-Arginine, the precursor of NO might be involved in improving the cardiovascular disorders via regulation of functional properties of erythrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of L-Arginine supplementation on responses of red blood cell (RBC) properties to high intensity interval exercise (HIIE).

METHODS: Ten overweight healthy men participated voluntarily in the study and performed two HIIE trials with and without L-Arginine in two separate weeks. The HIIE protocol included 12 intervals of 3-min encompassed 1-min running at 100% of vVO2max and 2-min active recovery at 40% of vVO2max. Three blood samples were taken before and after supplementation, and immediately after exercise; and were used to measure red blood cell properties.

RESULTS: The HIIE protocol increased hematocrit, hemoglobin and lactate significantly (P <  0.05), but had no significant effect on RBC aggregation, RBC deformability, and fibrinogen concentration. When data were compared for two trials no significant differences between the responses of RBC properties to two HIIE protocols were detected (P >  0.05), whereas the increases in lactate concentration following HIIE was significantly lower in L-Arginine than placebo trial (P <  0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that L-Arginine consumption prior to HIIE does not lead to any improvement in RBC properties during HIIE in overweight healthy men.