Effect of L-arginine dietary supplementation on salivary urea concentration and pH in physically active individuals

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess if the consumption of 3 g of a commercially available L-arginine dietary supplement causes a postabsorptive rise in urea concentration or pH of unstimulated saliva in a group of physically active individuals. Methods: Salivary urea and pH were determined for 117 participants in a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study. Samples were collected by 'spitting' method in fasting conditions. One hour prior to their second visit, participants consumed three tablets of L-arginine or placebo. Results: Urea concentration was significantly lower at second measurement for both the study and control group. The magnitude of the change was not significant between the groups. pH was higher for both groups at second measurement, but only significant for the study group. The magnitude of the change was significant between the groups. Participants who intermittently ingested protein dietary supplements and those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 25 had significantly higher basal urea concentration. Conclusions:The results of this study did not confirm the hypothesis. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of different doses of L-arginine supplements on the biochemical composition of saliva and the influence of their longterm consumption on the risk of developing dental diseases.

Salivary creatinine and urea are higher in an experimental model of acute but not chronic renal disease

“…Saliva from the parotid gland has significantly higher concentration of urea compared to saliva from submandibular and sublingual glands [ 19 ]. In addition, the effects of some drugs on salivary urea concentration were described [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Experimental studies on the pH levels that affect demineralization and remineralization of human tooth enamel

“…5,32 This means that some people may experience demineralization even in the normal range of salivary pH. This study clarifies that the variation in the incidence and severity of tooth decay from person to person could be dependent mainly on the chemical composition of saliva which protects against dental caries and erosion, and these effects are the result of saliva's being saturated with respect to tooth minerals such as calcium or phosphate ions, 33 as well as total protein, urea, bicarbonate, and phosphate, which play a role in salivary buffering capacity, [34][35][36] so different saliva samples show different responses. In these experiments, when teeth are exposed to saliva samples, cross points are generated as a result of a relationship between the change in pH and the saturation of saliva with respect to tooth minerals.…”

Evaluación del Efecto de un Gel con Arginina sobre el PH y Flujo Salival

“…Otro estudio investigó el efecto de la suplementación dietética con arginina (3 g) sobre el pH salival, encontrando que la magnitud del cambio de pH fue significativamente mayor para el grupo de estudio que para el control, los autores recomiendan realizar más estudios para determinar los efectos de suplementos como la arginina sobre la composición bioquímica y pH de la saliva (Vuletic et al, 2013).…”