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ADMA

Can Artificial Lighting Raise Blood Pressure?

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As a way of background, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is nitric oxide’s (NO) arch enemy.  NO is a small molecule that helps blood vessels relax, leading to a lower blood pressure.
Just in case you think you’ve never heard of something like this concept before, Viagra works by affecting NO levels.  So, higher levels of ADMA will lead to higher blood pressure.
It is very well accepted that prediabetes increases ADMA levels, which is why most cases of high blood pressure are actually prediabetes in disguise.  What I was not aware of is that oxidative stress also leads to an increase in ADMA levels (the same mechanism as insulin resistance–by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down ADMA).
This particular study finds that melatonin, on the other hand, actually blocks this process, leading to normal levels of ADMA.  This means that normal sleep patterns and exposure to as little artificial light as possible at night, can help normalize ADMA levels and hence blood pressure.

 

Asymmetric Dimethylarginine, Blood Pressure, and Renal Perfusion – (04-16-03)

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Asymmetric Dimethylarginine, Blood Pressure, and Renal Perfusion.

ADMA is still a relatively new concept. Basically, it is the arch-villian to nitric oxide. Recall that nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator and helps to lower blood pressure. When ADMA levels are high, it overrides the vasodilator effects of NO and raises blood pressure. Here we see that, in elderly patients, ADMA levels were directly correlated with blood pressure. Keep in mind that ADMA levels rise with insulin resistance (higher insulin inactivates the enzymes that degrades ADMA levels; essentially raising levels of ADMA) and insulin resistance climbs as we get older due to muscle loss.

Circulation — Abstracts: Kielstein et al. 107 (14): 1891

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INSULIN RESISTANCE RESULTS IN HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE – (09-01-03)

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Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia–Role of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine

We’ve come across asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) previously. Basically, nitric oxide is a small molecule that has many functions, one of which is dilation of blood vessels to increase blood flow (ala nitroglycerin tablets, Viagra…). ADMA is nitric oxide’s arch enemy–the more ADMA, the less effective nitric oxide can be.

We are finding that insulin resistance disables the enzyme that breads down ADMA, effectively raising levels of ADMA and inhibiting nitric oxide vasodilation. The result?? High blood pressure.

Circulation — Abstracts: Stühlinger et al. 108 (8): 933

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ARE THERE ANY LONG TERM BENEFITS TO L-ARGININE SUPPLEMENTATION – (02-04-08)

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L-Arginine Supplementation in Peripheral Arterial Disease

Now…we all have our opinions of multi level marketing companies. Many of these are tied to nutritional supplements. I remember a particularly pushy woman with a company that relied heavily on L-arginine in its supplements. Understanding that L-arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide via nitric oxide synthase (nitric oxide helps to relax blood vessels), so the idea is that we can give more L-arginine and help with certain cardiovascular conditions and / or prevention.

Well, insulin resistance is also a major player in this process, raising levels of a compound called ADMA, which counteracts nitric oxide. So, I explained to her that the REAL answer is lifestyle changes geared towards increasing insulin sensitivity. She really did have the background nor the interest, but she was happy to cite the credentials of the doctors that developed their products.

While I hate to be right, here we see an article that shows no long term benefit to L-arginine supplementation. This just makes sense. You HAVE to fix the underlying insulin resistance–anything else is just a band-aid. And, if you care to get deeper, when nitric oxide is out of balance, it can begin to act as a pro-inflammatory molecule. The bottom line is that, in MANY cases, MLM participants without the knowledge may be doing more harm then good by pushing certain supplements.

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