Study of effect of add on L-Arginine therapy on working capacity and Fatigability in hypertensive patients in tertiary care center of rural hospital.

Background: Hypertension is the third most important risk factor for attributable burden of disease. The aim of present study was to examine the effects of oral L-arginine supplementation on working capacity and fatigability as add on to standard antihypertensive therapy as L-arginine may increase blood flow to myocardium and skeletal muscle Materials & Methods: This was a Randomized, open labeled clinical trial conducted in all patients with hypertension visiting the Medicine Out-Patient Department (OPD) of Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni. 149 hypertensive patients were enrolled in study after satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomized in Intervention Group (n=74) and Control Group (n=75). The participants in the Intervention group received antihypertensive therapy along with add on L arginine oral supplementation for 14 days. The participants in the Control group received only standard antihypertensive therapy and had followed up similar to that of the participants of Intervention group. The questionnaire was prepared to observe the effect of L-arginine on working capacity and Fatigability and responses of participants from both groups were recorded in pre-structured proforma Results: In our study we found that add on L-arginine supplementation at a dose of 3g/d (L-arginine 5gm sachet) for 2 weeks in patients of hypertension resulted significant improvement in working capacity and significant reduction in fatigability in intervention group on first, second and third follow-up visits compared to control group. Conclusion: L-Arginine supplementation may be considered for short period as add on with standard antihypertensive therapy in patients of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]