Arginine Inhibits Platelet Aggregation

A study has determined that supplementation with L-arginine, the amino acid precursor of nitric oxide, can decrease platelet stickiness, a condition associated with heart failure and stroke. When 8.4 g/day of arginine was given for just two weeks to hypercholesterolemic patients, platelet reactivity was reduced. This effect lasted for two additional weeks after arginine supplementation was stopped, after which the tendency to hyperaggregate slowly returned after another 16 weeks. It was noted that the arginine usage was without side effects and was well-tolerated. The researchers attributed this affect to nitric oxide produced from arginine.

Phosphatidylserine and Depression

When 10 depressed women took 200 mg/day of phosphatidylserine (PS) for 30 days, they experienced a significant improvement in their depressive symptoms. Thus, PS, which is usually associated with memory and cognition, may also function as an antidepressant. ¹ Curiously, 5-HTP is also associated with both antidepressant and cognitive enhancement functions, although it works differently than PS (see LEN, Issue 28, December 1996). It seems PS operates as an antidepressant in an unusual way; beta endorphin concentrations, which are often associated with antidepressant activity, did not change between subjects and controls over the course of this study. Because of this difference, it seems probable that the values of PS and 5-HTP are additive.

References
1. Brambilla F, Maggioni M, Panerai AE, Sacerdote P, Cenacchi T. Beta-endorphin concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly depressed patients--effects of phosphatidylserine therapy. Neuropsychobiol 1996; 34: 18-21.

Ephedrine Plus Caffeine for Weight Loss

This remarkable thermogenic combination increases fat burning while maintaining muscle. Ephedrine plus caffeine also preserves HDL (the "good") cholesterol during weight loss, reduces lipogenesis, and increases insulin sensitivity. Despite recent sensationalist news reports to the contrary, ephedrine plus caffeine is quite safe when used intelligently. Our DHEA ThermoPlex^TM contains ephedrine plus caffeine in combination with other thermogenic agents, DHEA, yohimbe, and willow bark.

Thermogenesis for Lean and Obese

Ephedrine and caffeine have been found to increase after-meal thermogenesis. The metabolic rate of 10 lean women who had never been obese, 10 women who had been obese in the past, and 10 currently obese women increased after consuming a liquid meal containing ephedrine and caffeine, or ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin.¹ The respective amounts of ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin were 30 mg, 100 mg, and 300 mg As expected, the obese group experienced a significantly greater absolute increase in metabolic rate compared with both the lean and the formerly-obese groups. After nearly 3 hours, the metabolic rate remained high for all groups. Aspirin did not seem to potentiate the effects of the ephedrine and caffeine, but because full thermogenic effects were not measured, it is possible it might have added to the metabolic elevation. Other studies have shown the synergy of aspirin with ephedrine and caffeine for thermogenesis. ^2,3

References
1. Horton TJ, Geissler CA. Postprandial thermogenesis with ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin in lean, pre-disposed obese and obese women. Inter J Obes. 1996;20:91-97.
2. Atkinson RL, Blank RC, Loper JF, Schumacher D, Lutes RA. Combined drug treatment of obesity. Obes Res. 1995;3(Suppl 4):497S-500S.
3. Battig K. Acute and chronic cardiovascular and behavioural effects of caffeine, aspirin and ephedrine. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1993;17(Suppl 1):S61-64.