L-Arginine as a Dietary Supplement and Its Role in Management of Sickle Cell Anaemia and Ischemia

Now a day’s problem in health has become more common. So, instead of curing them, prevention
through dietary supplements has proven to be useful. In the case of patients who have already
developed the disease at least relieving pain and suffer is a challenging thing. Arginine reduces the
pain associated by synthesizing NO and causing vasodila-tion of blood vessels in sickle cell anaemia.
Ornithine is converted to citrulline and finally to arginine through certain metabolic reactions like
transamination. Arginine through NO regulates the endothelium of blood vessels and protects against
trauma and ischemia. Arginine supplementation along with antioxidants proved to be useful due to
additional protection offered during ischemia.