Anorexia nervosa: A role for L‐arginine supplementation in cardiovascular risk factors?

Abstract

The results here proposed can be considered highly indicative of a positive effect of L-arginine supplementation on platelet NO production in AN patients.

Elevated levels of exhaled nitric oxide in patients with anorexia nervosa

“…These results extend and confirm previous observations that pointed to enhanced NO production––such as levels of NO metabolites in plasma [1] and in platelets [15]—among patients with AN. The NO overproduction found in AN platelets might be due to iNOS upregulation [15]. However, reports in the literature are scarce and contain conflicting data on the pattern of NO behavior in AN.…”

“…However, reports in the literature are scarce and contain conflicting data on the pattern of NO behavior in AN. In contrast to the aforementioned studies [1, 15], Rodrigues-Pereira et al [16] demonstrated diminished NO production in patients with AN, as evaluated by NOS activity and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in platelets.…”

Oxidative stress and antioxidant levels in patients with anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and exploratory meta‐analysis

“…22,33,34,41 The increase in NO and its metabolites could lead to an increase in RNS that contribute to oxidative stress trough a damage in protein structure. AN subjects showed an increase in NO production, likely due to an increase in iNOS (inducible NO synthase) that leads to high levels of both nitrites and exhaled NO.…”

“…8 Therefore a role of oxidative stress in many neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases is not surprising. 20 However, data about oxidative stress and antioxidant markers in this disease are scarce, 8,10,21,22 and the low BMI of patients with AN limits the extrapolations from other psychiatric illnesses. 15 Bipolar disorder seems to be associated with increased lipid peroxidation, DNA/RNA damage, and NO compared to healthy controls (HCs).…”

Revisión del tratamiento dietético-nutricional de la anorexia nerviosa

“…Uno de los tempranos indicadores de deficiencia nutricional en la anorexia nerviosa es la baja concentración plasmática de aminoácidos, como L-arginina, con resultados positivos (relacionados con la producción plaquetaria de óxido nítrico) mediante la suplementación al respecto 64 . En ningún caso, el uso de suplementos puede sustituir a una alimentación normal y tampoco ha mostrado eficacia para mejorar el efecto de la medicación 39 .…”