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Biological Research For Nursing
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Arginine Supplementation Does Not Enhance Serum Nitric Oxide Levels in Elderly Nursing Home Residents With Pressure Ulcers

Joyce K. Stechmiller, ARNP, PhD, CS

University of Florida College of Nursing, Adult& Elderly Nursing, PO Box 100187, Gainesville, FL 32605;Stechjk{at}nursing.ufl.edu

Bobbi Langkamp-Henken, PhD, RD

Beverly Childress, ARNP, PhD

Kelli A. Herrlinger-Garcia, BS

Jan Hudgens, MS, RD, LD/N

Lili Tian, PhD

Susan S. Percival, PhD

University of Florida, Gainesville

Ruby Steely, RN, MSN

Lake City Veterans Administration Medical Center Nursing Home, Lake City, FL

The purpose of this study was to determine whether arginine supplementation enhances in vitro (neutrophil burst and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation) and in vivo (delayed-type hypersensitivity [DTH] and serum nitric oxide) measures of immune function in nursing home elders with pressure ulcers. Twenty-six elders, 65 years of age or older, with one or more pressure ulcers, were randomized to receive 8.5 g of arginine or an isonitrogenous supplement for 4 weeks. Immune function studies and serum arginine, ornithine, citrulline, and nitric oxide were measured at baseline, 4 weeks postsupplementation (Week 4) and after a 6-week washout (Week 10). At Week 4, serum ornithine increased (p = .01) and arginine trended to increase (p = .055), but there was no increase in citrulline or nitric oxide with arginine supplementation. There were no differences in neutrophil burst or DTH responses between groups. Whole blood mitogen–induced proliferation decreased significantly atWeek 10 in the isonitrogenous but not in the arginine-supplemented group. There is mounting concern that arginine supplementation during an inflammatory state could be detrimental due to overwhelming nitric oxide production. A key finding of this study is that arginine supplementation did not increase serum nitric oxide levels over that observed in elders with pressure ulcers given an isonitrogenous supplement.

Key Words: arginine • immunonutrition • wound healing • pressure ulcers • aging

Biological Research For Nursing, Vol. 6, No. 4, 289-299 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1099800405274732
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Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
G. K. Grimble
Adverse Gastrointestinal Effects of Arginine and Related Amino Acids
J. Nutr., June 1, 2007; 137(6): 1693S - 1701S.
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