The Effect of L-arginine Supplementation on Blood Pressure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: a Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

The prevalence of hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is approximately twice as much as healthy people. This study was designed to determine the effect of L-arginine supplementation on blood pressure in patients with T2D.
In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 75 T2D were randomly divided into three groups (3 g/d and 6 g/d of L-arginine and placebo) for 3 months. Height, weight, waist circumference, dietary intake, and blood pressure (BP) were measured before and after intervention.
In patients who received 3 g/d L-arginine, no significant difference was observed between BP before and after the intervention, however, subgroup analysis among patients with high BP showed significant reduction in systolic (p = 0.036) and diastolic BP (p = 0.027) after L-arginine supplementation. After 3 months of intervention, systolic and diastolic BP were significantly different compared to the baseline values and also with placebo value in patients receiving 6g/d of L-arginine (p The daily intake of 6 g of L-arginine for 3 months in T2D may improve BP. Taking 3 g/d of this supplement may help to improve BP only in patients with hypertension.