Effect of supplementation of L-arginine on platelet indices in response to a high intensity interval exercise in overweight men

To investigate the effect of L-arginine supplementation on platelet indices in response to a high intensity interval exercise.

Ten healthy overweight young men (BMI=27 ± 1.2 kg/m2) participated voluntarily in this cross-over and double-blind study, and performed a high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) protocol with L-arginine supplementation or placebo, where, two trials were separated by seven days. In each session, the subjects consumed 0.075 g per kg body weight of supplement or placebo which was dissolved in 400 ml of water, and 90 minutes later, performed HIIE as 12 intervals of 3-minute on treadmill (activity: 1-min, 100% of vVO2max, recovery: 2-min, 40% of vVO2max). To measure platelet indices including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet count (PLT), plateletcrit (PCT) and platelet distribution width (PDW), three blood samples were taken before supplementation and immediately before and after HIIE.

Regardless of the type of supplement, HIIE increased PLT and PCT by 29 and 31%, respectively (P < 001), but did not have a significant effect on MPV and PDW. Furthermore, consumption of L-arginine 90 min prior to HIIE, inhibited PCT (P = 0.043) but had no effect on PLT.

Intermittent nature and recovery periods in HIIE protocol did not significantly increase MPV and PDW in both sessions, which may be a reason for the safety of the HIIE. L-arginine supplementation prior to HIIE only reduced PCT, due to its inability to affect other indices, to achieve more accurate results further studies with more effective doses of supplementation are needed.