Need some anxiety relief? Learn about the connection between l-citrulline and anxiety – and how it can benefit your health.
If you regularly experience anxiety, it can negatively impact your life in more ways than one.
People suffering from anxiety disorders can feel constant stress and worry, irritability, frustration, and even fear.
Fortunately, one treatment that can offer some peace of mind involves l-citrulline and l-arginine supplements.
Continue reading to find out how supplementing with these amino acids can bring some necessary anxiety relief.
What is L-arginine?
L-citrulline and l-arginine are two semi-essential amino acids that serve various functions in the body.
Specifically, l-citrulline is a precursor to l-arginine, so the body will convert l-citrulline into l-arginine, increasing the latter’s amount.
L-arginine helps with the immune system, wound healing cell division, waste removal, and other biological processes.
This amino acid is present on foods such as meat, poultry, dairy products, and others.
Furthermore, the body produces it naturally – although, supplementation may be necessary in certain cases.
Factors affecting your body’s need for “extra” l-arginine include medical conditions, genetics, and age.
One of the most important functions of l-arginine is its ability to increase nitric oxide production.
In turn, nitric oxide relaxes and dilates blood vessels, improving blood flow and circulation.
A deficiency in l-arginine can result in several adverse effects.
On the other hand, supplementation can benefit your health – specifically when it comes to anxiety relief.
L-Citrulline and Anxiety
Whether we like it or not, anxiety is a normal response the body has to stressful situations.
In other words, the probability of never experiencing anxiety is very low.
However, just because you experience stress and anxiety doesn’t mean you will develop a disorder.
People who have anxiety disorders experience persistent, constant symptoms that cannot be easily associated with a specific cause.
Those with anxiety disorders can experience symptoms such as excessive irritability, fear, worry, tension, body aches, and sleep disorders.
As part of a treatment plan, doctors may prescribe medication and psychotherapy, which is where there is a connection between l-citrulline and anxiety.
However, according to some research, l-arginine supplementation (alongside other natural remedies) may help reduce symptoms.
L-arginine Studies
According to a June 2005 study in Nutritional Neuroscience, combining l-arginine and l-lysine (another amino acid) helps reduce stress effects.
The participants of the study had high trait anxiety and were part of a stress test simulation.
Furthermore, an April 2007 study in Biomedical Research studied the effects of this same combination on 108 healthy Japanese adults.
The results of the study show that l-arginine supplements, along with l-lysine, reduced trait and stress-induce anxiety.
Moreover, the supplements also reduce cortisol levels, which is a hormone that the body releases in times of stress.
Taking L-arginine Supplements
There are plenty of supplements available on the market that can help boost l-arginine levels.
However, when searching for the right product, it’s a good idea to find one that can help in more ways than one.
L-arginine Plus is a supplement that provides various benefits due to its ingredients.
It contains 5,110mg of l-arginine, 1,010mg of l-citrulline, Astragin, and key vitamins and minerals.
Together, these ingredients help with the body’s l-arginine absorption and promote heart health, cholesterol health, circulation, and more.
However, it’s important to follow your doctor’s treatment plan if you have an anxiety disorder.
If you want to add L-arginine Plus to your routine, inform your doctor to avoid any interactions it may have with other medication.