Recent research has linked the amino acid l-arginine with promising anti-diabetic effects. Research done by a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen with the University of Cincinnati have shown that l-arginine can improve glucose metabolism, which is very beneficial in the treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Over 371 million people across the globe suffer from diabetes. Of this, 90% suffer from type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by high levels of blood glucose, with insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. Insulin is a hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism and removes excess glucose from the blood. Being insulin resistance means that the body does not use insulin effectively, leading to glucose buildup in the bloodstream. Being insulin sensitive is opposite of this, where insulin can be used effectively to process glucose.

This research, featured on News Medical, found that l-arginine can improve glucose metabolism significantly. This was found in both insulin sensitive and insulin resistant mice. According to a researcher…

"The amino acid is just as effective as several well-established drugs for type 2 diabetics...We have demonstrated that both lean and fat laboratory mice benefit considerably from arginine supplements. In fact, we improved glucose metabolism by as much as 40% in both groups. We can also see that arginine increases the body's production of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an intestinal hormone which plays an important role in regulating appetite and glucose metabolism, and which is therefore used in numerous drugs for treating type 2 diabetes"

The researcher also brings up an important point that diabetes cannot be cured through eating large amounts of l-arginine rich foods. Eating l-arginine rich foods or taking l-arginine supplements can have a positive effect on how the body processes foods that are consumed.

To read the entire article on News Medical, please click here.