Plasma Metabolome Analysis Suggests That L-Arginine Supplementation Affects Microbial Activity Resulting in a Decrease in Trimethylamine N-oxide—A Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Overweight Adults with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Abstract

Background

The effects of supplementation with L-arginine (L-arg), the precursor of nitric oxide (NO), on vascular and cardiometabolic health have largely been explored. Whether other mechanisms of the action of L-arg exist remains unknown, as arginine metabolism is complicated.

Objective

We aimed to characterize the effect of low dose L-arg supplementation on overall human metabolism both in a fasting state and in response to an allostatic stress.

Methods

In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 32 healthy overweight adults (mean age 45 y) with cardiometabolic risk (fasting plasma triglycerides >150 mg/dL; waist circumference >94 cm [male] or >80 cm [female]) were treated with 1.5 g sustained-release L-arg 3 times/d (4.5 g/d) or placebo for 4 wk. On the last day of treatment, volunteers consumed a high-fat meal challenge (900 kcal, 80% as fat, 13% as carbohydrate, and 7% as protein). Plasma was collected at fasting, 2, 4, and 6 h after the challenge, and the metabolome was analyzed by high-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Metabolic profiles were analyzed using linear mixed models–principal component analysis.

Results

The challenge meal explained most of the changes in the metabolome. The overall effect of L-arg supplementation significantly explained 0.5% of the total variance, irrespective of the response to the challenge meal ( P < 0.05). Among the metabolites that explain most of the L-arg effect, we found many amino acids, including branched-chain amino acids, that were decreased by L-arg supplementation. L-arg also decreased trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Other changes suggest that L-arg increased methyl demand.

Conclusions

Analysis of the effect of 4 wk of L-arg supplementation on the metabolome reveals important effects on methyl balance and gut microbiota activity, such as a decrease in TMAO. Further studies are needed to investigate those mechanisms and the implications of these changes for long-term health.

This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02354794.