Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 200346 |
| Journal | Human Nutrition and Metabolism |
| Volume | 42 |
| Early online date | 25 Sept 2025 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2025 |
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a cluster of metabolic disturbances, including elevated triglyceride (TAG) levels, obesity, and hypertension, and is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Dietary interventions involving L-arginine (L-Arg), L-citrulline (L-Cit) and micronutrients may support numerous physiological functions and improve health during metabolic disturbances. We hypothesized that L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation decreases elevated TAG levels (≥150 mg/dL) and improves metabolic health. This proof-of-principle study was an eight-week randomized double-blind intervention involving 60 obese individuals (age: 59.9 ± 7.5 years, BMI: 33.6 ± 4.7 kg/m2, TAG level: 211 ± 71.2 mg/dL). The study aimed to investigate the potential effects of L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation on TAG levels and the MetS severity score based on waist circumference (WC). After eight-weeks of supplementation, the verum group showed a significant decrease in TAG levels compared to placebo (p < 0.001), and significant reductions in LDL-C (p = 0.038), systolic blood pressure (BP) (p = 0.040), and body fat mass (p = 0.045). In contrast, no effects were observed on fasting glucose, WC or diastolic BP. Participants in the verum group showed a significant decrease in the MetS severity score (p = 0.041), suggesting an improvement in metabolic health, while those in the placebo group showed no changes. This proof-of-principle study indicate that L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation may reduce TAG levels and potentially improve overall metabolic health in obese individuals with elevated TAG. Confirmatory studies are needed to substantiate these exploratory findings.
Keywords
- Hypertriglyceridemia, L-arginine and L-citrulline supplementation, Metabolic syndrome severity score, Micronutrient supplementation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Food Science
- Nursing(all)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Human Nutrition and Metabolism, Vol. 42, 200346, 12.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of L-arginine, L-citrulline and micronutrient supplementation on elevated triglyceride levels and metabolic syndrome severity score
AU - Kerlikowsky, Felix
AU - Hahn, Andreas
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a cluster of metabolic disturbances, including elevated triglyceride (TAG) levels, obesity, and hypertension, and is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Dietary interventions involving L-arginine (L-Arg), L-citrulline (L-Cit) and micronutrients may support numerous physiological functions and improve health during metabolic disturbances. We hypothesized that L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation decreases elevated TAG levels (≥150 mg/dL) and improves metabolic health. This proof-of-principle study was an eight-week randomized double-blind intervention involving 60 obese individuals (age: 59.9 ± 7.5 years, BMI: 33.6 ± 4.7 kg/m2, TAG level: 211 ± 71.2 mg/dL). The study aimed to investigate the potential effects of L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation on TAG levels and the MetS severity score based on waist circumference (WC). After eight-weeks of supplementation, the verum group showed a significant decrease in TAG levels compared to placebo (p < 0.001), and significant reductions in LDL-C (p = 0.038), systolic blood pressure (BP) (p = 0.040), and body fat mass (p = 0.045). In contrast, no effects were observed on fasting glucose, WC or diastolic BP. Participants in the verum group showed a significant decrease in the MetS severity score (p = 0.041), suggesting an improvement in metabolic health, while those in the placebo group showed no changes. This proof-of-principle study indicate that L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation may reduce TAG levels and potentially improve overall metabolic health in obese individuals with elevated TAG. Confirmatory studies are needed to substantiate these exploratory findings.
AB - Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a cluster of metabolic disturbances, including elevated triglyceride (TAG) levels, obesity, and hypertension, and is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Dietary interventions involving L-arginine (L-Arg), L-citrulline (L-Cit) and micronutrients may support numerous physiological functions and improve health during metabolic disturbances. We hypothesized that L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation decreases elevated TAG levels (≥150 mg/dL) and improves metabolic health. This proof-of-principle study was an eight-week randomized double-blind intervention involving 60 obese individuals (age: 59.9 ± 7.5 years, BMI: 33.6 ± 4.7 kg/m2, TAG level: 211 ± 71.2 mg/dL). The study aimed to investigate the potential effects of L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation on TAG levels and the MetS severity score based on waist circumference (WC). After eight-weeks of supplementation, the verum group showed a significant decrease in TAG levels compared to placebo (p < 0.001), and significant reductions in LDL-C (p = 0.038), systolic blood pressure (BP) (p = 0.040), and body fat mass (p = 0.045). In contrast, no effects were observed on fasting glucose, WC or diastolic BP. Participants in the verum group showed a significant decrease in the MetS severity score (p = 0.041), suggesting an improvement in metabolic health, while those in the placebo group showed no changes. This proof-of-principle study indicate that L-Arg, L-Cit, and micronutrient supplementation may reduce TAG levels and potentially improve overall metabolic health in obese individuals with elevated TAG. Confirmatory studies are needed to substantiate these exploratory findings.
KW - Hypertriglyceridemia
KW - L-arginine and L-citrulline supplementation
KW - Metabolic syndrome severity score
KW - Micronutrient supplementation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105018086944&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.hnm.2025.200346
DO - 10.1016/j.hnm.2025.200346
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105018086944
VL - 42
JO - Human Nutrition and Metabolism
JF - Human Nutrition and Metabolism
M1 - 200346
ER -