L-Arginine Boosts HGH Growth Hormone Naturally If You Use It Right

Arginine is a ‘non-essential’ amino acid that causes the secretion of human growth hormone from the pituitary gland. A dose of arginine an hour before a weightlifting workout speeds muscle building and fat loss. Read more here about how to do this right.

Role of Arginine for Increasing Growth Hormone Levels

Here is a great example of success using L-arginine to boost human growth hormone levels:

Researcher Sandy Shaw used this protocol by taking 10 grams of arginine before doing bench presses. She lost 25 pounds of fat and gained 5 pounds of muscle within 6 weeks on this regimen.

human growth hormone | arginine | muscle building | gh secretagogue

Dosages

Clinical studies have shown that various doses of arginine have a wide range of effectiveness. Based on these studies, the smallest effects can be expected at dosages of less than 3 grams. The impact of arginine also shows a diminishing response with aging. The greatest growth hormone responses occur in subjects with the lowest body fat composition and the highest aerobic capacity.

This means that the impact of arginine on GH release increases with decreasing body fat composition and with increasing aerobic fitness. Arginine will work better as you increase your fitness.

Starting dosages for arginine as a supplement are 2 to 5 grams on an empty stomach one hour before exercise and before bedtime. Side effects may include stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea. However, these can be minimized by starting at low dosages (1 gram) and building up slowly.

Effects of Arginine on Exercise Performance

Arginine enhances exercise performance because it is one of the main ingredients, along with glycine, that goes into the biosynthesis of creatine in the liver. Creatine is important for high-intensity, short duration exercises for muscle building.

This means that arginine provides a two-fold boost in exercise performance by stimulating growth hormone levels and creatine synthesis.

Additional Benefits

Positive effects of arginine also include boosting the immune system, fighting cancer, protecting the liver, promoting healing of burns and wounds, enhancing male fertility, and restoring sexual function in impotent men. Most of these benefits come from stimulating GH secretion. However, arginine restores sexual function because it is a precursor to nitric oxide, which plays a key role in getting and maintaining an erection.

Enhancing Performance with Additional Amino Acids

Bodybuilders get even better results by combining arginine with other amino acids, such as ornithine, lysine, and glutamine. This is called stacking. When taken together, these amino acids have a synergistic effect on grwoth hormone release.

A beginner’s stack is 2 grams each of arginine and ornithine and 1 gram each of lysine and glutamine. An advanced stack would include 2 grams each of all four amino acids. The arginine-lysine-glutamine trio is especially important because it stimulates insulin levels, even on an empty stomach. The combination of GH and insulin in the absence of food drives the incorporation of amino acids into muscle. When taken before bedtime, this combination also stops the body from breaking down as much muscle tissue as it normally does during a night’s sleep.

For getting more from your own growth hormone,

FitScientist
(Dennis)

30 Comments so far »

by claudio

hi, i am a chilean young, 30 years old, and i want loose 20 pounds a gain muscle, i need you tell me what dou i have to take, i go to the gym 3 o 4 time to week, and use creatine, amino2222 y protein ande after you article, l arginina. thans for every thing
by adminpfr

Hi, Claudio: It sounds as though you are working out well and supplementing right. The main thing that I don’t know is what you are eating. Just be sure to keep the carbs low from grains (bread, etc.). At age 30, you should be able to get the weight you want and build muscle. Take a look at the videos by Doug McGuff from Body by Science, on this blog. They will also give you a good idea about how to work out more efficiently.

All the best,
Dennis, FitScientist
by rick

I would like to know if taking arginine or ornithine will help stimulate height increase for my teenage son who is 13 yrs? Or is this dangerous to take for a 13 yr old?
by adminpfr

Height increase via these amino acids is not the main goal, so I suspect that they would not do what you are asking about. In fact, the HGH stimulating properties of arginine and ornithine are probably lost on youth the first place.

All the best,
Dennis
by Jack

Hello,
I am 50 y.o., 161 pounds, 5’11″. Got a bit of belly fat I’m wanting to shed as well as build more lean muscle. I hit the gym after working all nite about 3 or 4 times a week as my schedule permits. I take animal pak for my multi, animal flex for joint support. Also just started con-crete creatine. Also just started taking Jack3d for my pre-workout to give me the energy to get a good workout in, as I’m usually feeling pretty drained after work. I only take 3/4 scoop instead of the 1-3 scoop recommended and find it works good at 3/4 scoop. I also plan on starting to supplement the essential ammino acids, and have a question please. I have read to eat something 1 hour before your workout so you have fuel to workout on, but you say to take the Arginine 1 hour before the workout on an empty stomach. I have been eating brown rice 1 hour before, then a prtein shake immediately after my workout, generally with a peanut butter sandwich made with whole wheat. Any advice you can provide is appreciated. Thank you for your help.
Jack
by FitScientist

Hey, Jack: It is a toss up regarding what you should eat or not eat before or after a workout. I go with the results of stimulating HGH release by taking an amino acid supplement (mostly arginine) 1-2 hours before a workout because HGH is the end-all and be-all hormone that influences everything. Your results on eating brown rice, or anything else, depends a lot on how well you can handle the carb load. At my age (63), carbs make me fat more easily than ever before. If you really want to do something different, check out what it takes to activate or promote the action of your brown adipose tissue. It could be as simple as an ice bag treatment on your upper back and neck for 10 minutes a day. This is a neat topic that is more fully explained by Tim Ferriss in his new book, The Four-Hour Body. Definitely recommended reading…lots of other great ideas, too.

All the best,
Dennis
by sam williams

being 63 yrs old carbs is my enemy. detoxing my cells is a plus .im taking niacin with a sauna after exercise 5-6 thousand miligrams of arginie seems to work but boy do i sweat thxx
by FitScientist

Hey, Sam…I relate to what you say. In fact, my challenges include dehydration, too. I suspect that some of the problem that I have with carbs involves a weird confluence of fluid retention (especially in my ankles) and dehydration everywhere else. I’ve got a great idea for alleviating this problem, though. And I don’t have to get fluid IVs to hydrate. All I have to do is adapt the World Health Organization’s formula for Oral Rehydration Therapy to my workout regimen. These days I am mostly running in hot weather, and it is impossible to stay hydrated by just drinking water (sports drinks are crap, so I won’t even consider any of those). Take a look here to see what I mean: http://www.supply.unicef.dk/catalogue/bulletin9.htm. I will probably be posting in this topic once I see how it works for me.

All the best,
Dennis
by Michael Mercieca

Hi, Can you take L-arginine and L-critulline at the same time.
cheers
Michael
by FitScientist

Hi, Michael:

You can take them together, although some arginine will convert to citrulline in the body. However, if you want a spike in anaerobic performance for a single intense weightlifting session, plus a quicker recovery, you might experience the result of this 2010 study: J Strength Cond Res. 2010 May;24(5):1215-22. Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. It was based on a one-time, pre-workout dose of 8 grams of citrulline malate.

All the best,
Dennis
by SeattleDavid

I use arginine and lysine for HGH production, age 42 and look 22. It is important to also never eat any calories (food or drink) 3 hrs before bedtime.

I have since switched from pill form to getting my amino acids from my protein mix (whey have a great effect on blood alkeline levels). Muscle Milk and Cryosport both have good levels of argenine and lysine, not to mention trypthophan which is hard to come by without eathing a pound of turkey – which I don’t recommend.

This info I give out free so enjoy.
by FitScientist

Hey, SeattleDavid…Thanks for the valuable input. You have hit the nail on the head for taking advantage of some of the best ways to keep your HGH secretion high.

All the best,
Dennis
by Phil

Hey Doc.

I saw your video about arginine and gh increase and I was just wondering if takeing 5grams before bedtime Will help me increase my gh-levels?

Im 21 years old by The way

Phil
by FitScientist

Hi, Phil…That would certainly enhance your normal GH spike that comes about 2 hours into your night’s sleep.

All the best,
Dennis
by walter morris

Have you read the study where the elderly actually pulsed hgh at the level of youth: They took 100mcgrams of ghrp 6, and 100mcgrams of ghrh. Next arginine was added, and the hgh blood level doubled. They took 8 grams per day, if my memory serves me. I read about your stacks, but the problem is that it really raises the cost. I can buy 500 grams powder for $26. If you can not find the study I will locate it for you.
by Iggy

Hello Dr. Clark:

What are the dosages for the stack you mention in the stack that is excerpted below? Is that one stack before a workout and one stack at night? Or is that only thing that should taken through out the day? In other words, do dosages reflect both morning and night dosages? Thanks!

-Iggy

A beginner’s stack is 2 grams each of arginine and ornithine and 1 gram each of lysine and glutamine. An advanced stack would include 2 grams each of all four amino acids. The arginine-lysine-glutamine trio is especially important because it stimulates insulin levels, even on an empty stomach. The combination of GH and insulin in the absence of food drives the incorporation of amino acids into muscle. When taken before bedtime, this combination also stops the body from breaking down as much muscle tissue as it normally does during a night’s sleep.
by arnav

im just 19 year old and wanna increase my height just 5’10 n now im 5’6 so can i get 5’10 in this age by these amino’s n from where i can get theese amino’s???n shud i take theese amino as a pills or any other form???n can i also take these amino’s together i mean l-arginine,orithinine,lysine n all together will it not side effect me????? help me……
by Patricia

I noticed that this was mainly focused on the men out there that are boosting amino acids and what it does for them but what does it do for women. I read the first part about her losing fat and gaining muscle as well but does it affect a woman’s sex drive as well? I am 43 and need all the help I can get in the area of losing fat and sex drive.
by Rose

Sam, Dennis is right you need to make sure you are hydrated, I have never seen this World Health Oral Hydration thing that he was talking about but I will look it up because I have been trying to drink 1 oz. of water per pound of body weight per day to stay hydrated and I want to see if they agree. I can tell you that being hydrated has stopped my headache etc.
by Barbara

I want some of these amino acids and things that will boost my human growth hormone. Is it possible to boost it enough that your body will start naturally burning off the fat that is on it like you were a teenager again. I struggle so much with fat around my belly that I am willing to try anything and it is about down to this.
by Angela

I have been wanting to get some amino acid because I used to take them and they really worked. My husband and I when we first got married had a gym membership and we would take amino acids before we would go work out and it really seemed to help the function of the muscles and everything else. I am looking forward to finding some really good ones again.
by Paul

I wonder if L-Arginine is banned in any of the professional sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA and especially, major League baseball, where there has been rampant steroid use and where there is a debate whether MLB should tests its players for HGH. That would be a great indicator as to its effectiveness. That said, there are lots of supplements banned by MLB.
by Havi

Hey! Iam a 16 y.o boy iam 5’5 want to increase my height to 6’0 will l-arginine help me? I have a good diet and workout plan.plz help
by FitScientist

Hi, Havi: At your age you may have already had your final adolescent growth spurt. Whether you have or not yet, L-arginine will have little to do with determining your height at this point. Height is mostly based on genetics. Sorry!

All the best,
Dennis
by Nancy

I thought that HGH was illegal, is that true? I mean if it is in raw form that is. But this is something that just goes with HGH right? Thank you for posting this information I am going to look into this because I heard it helps you get rid of body fat real quick. I guess it would be like you were a teenager again right? I will do some more digging thank you.
by Irene

I can’t wait to find this stuff I have heard a lot about it and how it works so I am excited to find it and give it a try. I have heard it works pretty fast because bodybuilders use it to get ripped when they are about to compete. Thank you so much for this information I am looking forward to giving updates on how it has worked for me.
by James

Arginine has gotten lots of attention lately for its potential heart benefits. That’s important because, today, about 64 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. Deficiencies of arginine are rare. It’s abundant in many different types of foods, and your body can also make it. But what does arginine do for the heart, and are there potential side effects?
by Duke Jephtha

Hi Dr. D. Sorry for hijacking this post but i was just wondering if you have done research on the effects of testosterone boosters (on muscle growth)? If you have will you be so kind as to point out where it is.

Kind Regards
Duke
by Stephanie

I have heard that many individuals consume amino acids before strength training workouts, believing this practice accentuates the exercise-induced GH release, thereby promoting greater gains in muscle mass and strength – particularly amateur athletes and weekend workout warriors. But I think some people would like to know that no studies found that pre-exercise oral amino acid supplementation augments GH release.
by FitScientist

Hi, Duke: I don’t recommend testosterone boosters per se, unless you have low testosterone in the first place. In that case, the best strategy is to get a prescription for testosterone from your doctor. Very effective.

All the best,
Dennis