Table 2.
Effect of l-arginine on body composition and plasma variables of Europid and South Asian men
| Variable | Europid (n = 10) | South Asian (n = 10) | All (n = 20) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo | l-Arginine | Placebo | l-Arginine | Placebo | l-Arginine | |
| Body weight (kg) | 99 ± 4 | 100 ± 4 | 93 ± 4 | 92 ± 4 | 96 ± 4 | 96 ± 4 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 30.5 ± 1.3 | 30.6 ± 1.3 | 30.0 ± 1.1 | 29.9 ± 1.0 | 30.2 ± 1.2 | 30.3 ± 1.2 |
| Fat mass (kg) | 30.0 ± 2.0 | 31.6 ± 2.1 | 29.5 ± 2.4 | 29.6 ± 2.0 | 29.7 ± 2.1 | 30.6 ± 2.0 |
| Fat mass (%) | 30.1 ± 1.0 | 31.0 ± 1.1 | 31.2 ± 1.3 | 31.4 ± 1.1 | 30.7 ± 1.1 | 31.2 ± 1.1 |
| Lean mass (kg) | 65.8 ± 2.2 | 66.6 ± 2.4 | 61.1 ± 2.0 | 61.2 ± 2.1 | 63.3 ± 2.2 | 63.9 ± 2.4 |
| Lean mass (%) | 67.6 ± 0.9 | 67.0 ± 1.1 | 66.3 ± 1.3 | 66.5 ± 1.0 | 66.9 ± 1.1 | 66.7 ± 1.0 |
| BMD (g/cm3) | 1.26 ± 0.02 | 1.26 ± 0.03 | 1.25 ± 0.03 | 1.24 ± 0.03 | 1.25 ± 0.03 | 1.25 ± 0.03 |
| Glucose (mmol/l) | 5.6 ± 0.2 | 5.5 ± 0.1 | 5.3 ± 0.1 | 5.3 ± 0.1 | 5.5 ± 0.2 | 5.4 ± 0.1 |
| Insulin (pmol/l) | 160 ± 35 | 125 ± 21 | 125 ± 35 | 132 ± 21 | 139 ± 35 | 132 ± 21 |
| Triacylglycerol (mmol/l) | 1.5 ± 0.2 | 1.5 ± 0.2 | 1.6 ± 0.2 | 1.9 ± 0.4 | 1.6 ± 0.2 | 1.7 ± 0.3 |
| NEFA (mmol/l) | 0.49 ± 0.07 | 0.53 ± 0.07 | 0.59 ± 0.03 | 0.58 ± 0.04 | 0.54 ± 0.05 | 0.55 ± 0.05 |
| Free glycerol (μmol/l) | 77 ± 7 | 85 ± 6 | 90 ± 8 | 90 ± 9 | 84 ± 7 | 87 ± 7 |
Data are expressed as mean ± SEM
BMD, bone mineral density