Raynaud’s phenomenon, whose cause is unknown, is an illness with episodes of reduced circulation to the fingers and toes. Cold temperatures cause digital artery spasms with resulting pains. The skin changes from cyanotic to white and red. At times the circulation is so impaired that there can be actual the necrosis (accidental death of cells) of ends of the fingers and toes.
People with collagen diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma have more severe Raynaud’s phenomenon.
The authors report two cases of Raynaud’s phenomenon in which arginine therapy reduced severe symptoms and two cases in which arginine reversed digital necrosis. The patients received from 500 mg. four times a day to 2 gm. three times a day. One patient stopped her arginine and the symptoms returned in two weeks.
There is evidence that nitric oxide plays a role in the reduced circulation of Raynaud’s phenomenon. This idea is supported by the improvement with arginine therapy, a source of nitric oxide. Arginine is the raw material for the enzyme, nitric oxide synthetase, to produce nitric oxide. The problem could be due to reduced synthesis or metabolism of nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is a smooth muscle relaxant and a blood vessel dilator. Reduced nitric oxide in the walls of blood vessels results in blood vessel spasms because the muscles of the walls can not relax.
CONCLUSION: Four patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon had marked benefit from arginine. The authors suggest the use of arginine in patients with this problem, especially if there is digital necrosis. Arginine is most likely converted to nitric oxide, which allows relaxation of the blood vessels to improve circulation.
NOTE: Read about arginine in the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis.)
To read the author’s abstract of the article click on the ncbi link above.
PMID: 12701823.
Summary #158.
