Effect of L-arginine on selected markers of metabolic syndrome related to oxidative stress, glucose metabolism and nitric oxide synthesis in female Wistar albino rats

Egbuonu A.C. Cemaluk and Ezean

Abstract

Female gender is an independent risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (MES) (a cluster of features indicating metabolic disorders), that is associated with oxidative stress, insulin resistance and a significant reduction in nitric oxide (NO), a major metabolite of L-arginine (ARG). This study aimed to ascertain the effect of ARG on selected markers of MES related to glucose metabolism, oxidative stress and nitric oxide synthesis, in female Wistar albino rats. Two groups of rats were given 3 ml/kg body weight (bw) of distilled water, DW and 60 mg/kg bw of ARG, respectively as control and treated groups. Exposing ARG to female rats evoked a significant reduction (p