Blood pressure, hematologic and biochemical changes following L-arginine supplementation in children with sickle cell anaemia already on hydroxyurea therapy.

Hydroxyurea is an approved therapy in the management of children suffering from sickle cell disease (SCD). In adults co-administration of hydroxyurea and L-Arginine in adult sufferers of SCD had shown some benefits. This study examined the effect of co-administration of hydroxyurea (15-35mg/kg/day) and L-Arginine (500 mg/day) for 6 weeks on blood pressure, haematological parameters, liver and antioxidant enzymes levels.

Supplementation with l-arginine stabilizes plasma arginine and nitric oxide metabolites, suppresses elevated liver enzymes and peroxidation in sickle cell anaemia.

The effect of l-arginine on liver function in SCD has received little or no attention. The effect of a chronic, oral, low-dose supplementation with l-arginine (1gm/day for 6 weeks) on some liver enzymes, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide metabolites was studied in 20 normal (non-sickle cell anaemia; NSCA) subjects and 20 sickle cell anaemia (SCA) subjects. Ten milliliters of blood was withdrawn from an ante-cubital vein for the estimation of plasma arginine concentration ([R]), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), plasma total bilirubin concentration [TB], malondialdehyde concentration [MDA] and nitric oxide metabolites concentration [NOx].

l-Arginine supplementation enhances antioxidant activity and erythrocyte integrity in sickle cell anaemia subjects.

The effect of oral, low-dose l-arginine supplementation (1g/day for 6 weeks) on antioxidant activity, haematological parameters and osmotic fragility of red blood cells was investigated in sickle cell disease sufferers. Twenty eight sickle cell anaemia subjects were recruited for the study. Five millilitres of blood was withdrawn from an ante-cubital vein for the estimation of plasma arginine concentration ([R]), total antioxidant enzymes (TAE) activity, malondialdehyde concentration ([MDA]), RBC count, [Hb], PCV, MCHC, MCV, MCH, percent irreversibly sickled cells (%ISC)) and osmotic fragility of red blood cells in the subjects.

L-arginine increases nitric oxide and attenuates pressor and heart rate responses to change in posture in sickle cell anemia subjects.

Pressor and heart rate changes following change in posture without or with L-arginine supplementation (1g/day for 6 weeks) were studied in 28 sickle cell anemia (SCA) and 32 non-sickle cell anemia (NSCA) subjects. Change in posture increased HR (p<0.01), RPP (p<0.

Electrocardiographic and blood pressure changes in apparently healthy male subjects following oral, chronic, low-dose vitamin C supplementation and/or change in posture.

Introduction: Studies have shown that oral, chronic, low dose vitamin C reduces blood pressure and forearm blood flow in normal young adults or hypertensive patients. It is not clear how vitamin C affects cardiac function or autonomic control of blood pressure in young apparently healthy adults.

Aim: This study was undertaken to examine the effects of a chronic, low dose (300 mg/day for 6 weeks) vitamin C supplementation on the electrocardiogram and autonomic control of blood pressure in apparently healthy male subjects.