As a food supplement for adults, one vegicap daily of Solgar L-Arginine, preferably with juice or water in between meals, or as directed by a health care practitioner.

Various studies on L-arginine have used different doses. For instance, for cardiovascular health reasons, doses from 8 to 21 grams daily have been used in divided doses. To help aid with sperm quantity and quality, doses of 10 to 20 grams daily have been used in divided doses. Doses of 5 grams daily have been used for erectile dysfunction. Doses of 1.5 to 2.4 grams daily have been used for interstitial cystitis.

• Arginine is also needed to increase protein synthesis, which can in turn increase cellular replication. Therefore, arginine may help people with inadequate numbers of certain cells. For example, some,4 though not all,5 studies have found that men with low sperm counts experienced an increase in the number of sperm when they supplemented with arginine.

  Arginine’s effect on increasing protein synthesis improves wound healing. This effect has been shown in both animals6 and people (at 17 grams per day).

  Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide, which the body uses to keep blood vessels dilated, allowing the heart to receive adequate oxygen. Researchers have begun to use arginine in people with angina and congestive heart failure.