ABSTRACT
Background: 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
Methods: In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 75 T2D were randomly divided into three groups [3 g/d and 6g/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
Results: In patients who received 3g/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 < 0.05]
Conclusions: The daily intake of 6g of L-arginine for 3 months in T2D may improve BP. Taking 3g/d of this supplement may help to improve BP only in patients with hypertension