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Anorexia nervosa: A role for L-arginine supplementation in cardiovascular risk factors?

  1. Arianna Vignini PhD1,*,
  2. Monica D'Angelo MD1,
  3. Laura Nanetti PhD1,
  4. Maria Angela Camilloni PhD, MD2,
  5. Anna Maria Cester MD3,
  6. Emanuela Faloia MD2,
  7. Eleonora Salvolini PhD4,
  8. Laura Mazzanti PhD1

Article first published online: 19 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/eat.20709

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 43, Issue 5, pages 464–471, July 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Vignini, A., D'Angelo, M., Nanetti, L., Camilloni, M. A., Cester, A. M., Faloia, E., Salvolini, E. and Mazzanti, L. (2010), Anorexia nervosa: A role for L-arginine supplementation in cardiovascular risk factors?. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 43: 464–471. doi: 10.1002/eat.20709

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Biochemistry, Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy

  2. 2

    Division of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy

  3. 3

    Department of Clinical and Stomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy

  4. 4

    Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy

*Department of Biochemistry, Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Ranieri 65, Ancona, Italy

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 JUN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 19 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 14 APR 2009

Funded by

  • RSA Grant from Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

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Keywords:

  • anorexia nervosa;
  • platelets;
  • L-arginine/NO pathway;
  • [Ca2]i;
  • concen tration;
  • CVD

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a short-term oral L-arginine treatment on platelet NO production, intracellular calcium concentration, iNOS and eNOS expression, in AN patients.

Method:

Forty outpatients belonging to restricting subtype and 40 normal participants age and sex matched were enrolled in the study.

Results:

NO production was significantly elevated in the platelets from AN patients compared with controls while [Ca2+]i was significantly decreased in patients with respect to controls. Western blot analysis demonstrated that iNOS isoform was more pronounced in the cell lysates from AN patients than controls. After supplementation with L-arginine, both NO production and [Ca2+]i seem to return to control levels, suggesting a probable recovery of their metabolisms. The same was found after western blot analysis of NOS expression.

Discussion:

The results here proposed can be considered highly indicative of a positive effect of L-arginine supplementation on platelet NO production in AN patients. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010

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