Arginine and nutrition in renal disease.

The physiological significance of arginine metabolism extends far beyond its incorporation as an amino acid into proteins. In addition to its effects when administered as a dietary supplement, the end-products of arginine metabolism by the enzymes arginase, arginine decarboxylase (ADC), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) have been shown to play roles in wound healing, immune response, tumor biology, and the regulation of inflammation. These properties make arginine metabolism a significant concern in defining and, likely, treating renal disease.