Arginine blunts the GH response

Some reading from my favourite site

Arginine blunts the GH response to a workout

by Dr. Paul Cribb Ph.D. CSCS.
AST Director of Research

This study investigated the combined effect of resistance exercise and arginine supplementation on growth hormone (GH) release. Eight healthy male subjects were studied randomly on four separate occasions; when they took a placebo, arginine, placebo plus exercise and arginine plus exercise. The subjects had their blood sampled every 10 minutes for 3.5 hours after the workout.

After baseline sampling, the participants ingested their supplement (a 7 gram dose of arginine or placebo). The researchers and participants were blinded to the treatment at all times. On the days the participants performed resistance exercise, they completed a series of exercises using 80% of their single repetition maximum.

Results showed that the dose of arginine was able to stimulate GH release, but a greater GH response was seen from exercise alone. However, the most interesting finding was that the combined effect of taking arginine before the workout actually blunted the GH response from training.

GH plays an integral role in the muscle growth, fat-loss response to exercise. If you’re attempting to build muscle and shed body fat, a lower GH response from exercise is not what you want. Taking arginine before training appears to do this.

Some bodybuilders take nitric-oxide stimulating supplements before training. These products are little more than an overpriced arginine supplement. However, the results of this study suggest that taking arginine before a workout decreases the GH response to exercise. Therefore, taking a arginine-based supplement before a workout maybe counter-productive to the results desired from training.

I use to think nitric-oxide supplements were worthless. But now, in light of this research, nitric-oxide supplements appear to be much worse than a waste of money, they may well impair gains during training.

Source: J Appl Physiol 101: 848-852, 2006.

Interesting Piece

So taking Arganine before bed to enhance your natural GH spike while sleeping is ok?
Any thoughts?

Id stick with GABA on that. Atleast some science to back that. Havnt seen studies on Arginine before bed time..... if you have post-always good to read

Interesting read