ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION OF L-ARGININE IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

Abstract

The study was conduct to evaluate the effect of oral L-arginine supplementation on exercise tolerance in patients with severe COPD. Patients (n=35) with specific conditions were<br>selected and divided randomly into three groups. Group A was the placebo group (n=11), group B was supplemented with 15 g L-arginine/day (n=12), and group C consumed 25 g Larginine/ day (n=12). The study period was 14 days. Many parameters were measured at the beginning (day 0), during (day 7), and at the end of the study (day 14). These parameters included: plasma and urinary concentrations of L-arginine, L-citrulline, and L-ornithine; serum and urinary urea and creatinine; urinary nitrate and nitrite; forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1); arterial blood gases (ABG