Could a Common Amino Acid Help Your Immune System Fight Cancer and Viruses?

Some of the greatest medical advances will come from compounds that we already understand. Arginine is a building block of protein found in many everyday foods, and new research from Rockefeller University suggests the amino acid L-Arginine benefits the immune system by helping it recognize and fight both cancer cells and viruses.

What the Researchers Found

Arginine is involved in many physiological processes throughout the body and helps cells synthesize the proteins required for processes as diverse as wound healing and the immune response. Arginine is synthesized by the body, and also found in foods such as meat, fish, nuts and legumes. Low levels of arginine have previously been linked to colon cancer, among other diseases.

Arginine is also involved in nitric oxide production, which supports healthy blood flow and blood vessel function. While the body makes arginine naturally, it's considered "conditionally essential", meaning that during times of stress, illness, or rapid growth, the body's needs increase and dietary sources become more important.

To figure out how arginine relates to cancer, Sohail Tavazoie, a professor at Rockefeller University’s Elizabeth and Vincent Meyer Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology and colleagues have published their latest work in the journal Cell . It turns out that low arginine levels not only suppress tumor cells directly, but can impair the immune system’s ability to identify them to begin with.

Arginine is normally an amino acid your body makes on its own, but that’s not always true. In a 2021 review published in Nutrients about the role of L-arginine in nitric oxide synthesis, researchers write that illness, injury, or rapid growth can deplete your natural reserves, making it a conditionally essential nutrient.

How Arginine Affects Immune "Visibility"

Now things get even more interesting. Almost all of the cells in our body display a molecule called MHC-1 on their surface. MHC-1 acts like a distress signal by presenting bits of information about a cell’s contents to T cells circulating through the body so that they can tell if that cell has become cancerous or infected with a virus.

They discovered that at low levels of arginine, the ribosomes that build MHC-1 get stuck in the middle, because the protein requires so much arginine to complete. Fewer of these warning flags can be produced without sufficient levels of the amino acid, allowing cancer or infected cells to hide from the immune system.

What Happened in Mice

Then, they wanted to know whether this was relevant in vivo, as well as in vitro. So, they exposed mice to different amounts of dietary arginine.

• Colon cancer was increased in mice given a diet deficient in arginine.

• High-arginine diets led to fewer tumors in mice.

• Influenza-infected and SARS-CoV-2-infected mice also had a more mild disease course when on arginine-rich diets.

Most notably, mice who received arginine supplementation after their infection was already present had better outcomes, indicating that supplementing might help even after an infection has taken hold, not just for prevention.

Why This Might Matter for Aging

Because arginine levels decrease as we get older, the team speculates that this may account for increased cancer susceptibility in the elderly and those who are malnourished, as well as the risk of severe disease from viral infections in these groups. If the L-Arginine immune system connection means the body relies on adequate arginine to properly flag abnormal cells, then declining arginine over time could quietly weaken the body's surveillance system just when it's needed most.

A Few Things Worth Keeping in Mind

The results look very encouraging, but we’re still at the beginning of this research:

• Most of the research has been conducted on cell lines and mice, so human trials must still take place to verify that the same effects will be present in humans.

• The authors of the current study point out that it should be possible to trial arginine supplements in people on immunotherapy, or in other at-risk groups, but no such trials have been conducted.

• Since arginine is cheap and easy to come by, you can supplement with l-arginine at a local pharmacy, which is one reason the researchers believe the study may be able to proceed with humans in a matter of months.

If you're considering L-Arginine as a supplement, it's commonly sold in tablet form. That said, if you supplement L-Arginine it may interact with blood pressure medications and certain other drugs, so it's a good idea to check with your doctor before adding it to your routine.

There is quite a bit of variation in the doses used across studies. When studies examine exercise performance and blood flow, they have used anywhere from a few grams to higher dosages. And because L-citrulline is converted to arginine in the body, the form of the supplement matters as well. All of this is why a brief conversation with your healthcare provider will be more helpful than trying to figure it out yourself.

The Bottom Line

It’s another reminder that diet, and in particular amino acid intake, can affect not only gene expression but also immune response against cancer or viruses on a cellular basis. It's too early to call arginine a treatment for cancer, but it's a compelling reason to watch where this research goes next.

Curious whether arginine or other amino acid support might have a place in your wellness routine? Stop by Village Green Apothecary, our team is happy to talk through your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does arginine cause cancer?

Actually, this study shows just the opposite. According to Rockefeller University researchers, low arginine was associated with increased colon cancer in mice, and high arginine was associated with decreased colon cancer. The current thinking is that adequate arginine may help support the immune system's ability to detect abnormal cells, rather than contribute to cancer. Human studies are still required, so speak with your doctor before taking any amino acid supplement.

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Gluten Free Amino Acid for Optimal Arterial Health Dietary Supplement Non-GMO LE Certified The human body naturally produces L-arginine. It is also obtained through diet. But some people struggle to get enough of this semi-essential amino acid through either of those routes. Our L-Arginine Caps provide 700 mg of L-arginine along with 6 mg of vitamin C to support arterial health and more. This semi-essential amino acid is involved in numerous areas of human biochemistry that contribute to overall health. L-Arginine Caps Benefits Supports arterial health Helps maintain healthy tissue & bones Supports already-healthy blood pressure levels May help maintain a healthy immune system L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid involved in numerous areas of human biochemistry that contribute to overall health. It modulates immune function, detoxifies ammonia for removal from the body and serves as a precursor for nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator, and supplemental L-arginine can therefore support already-healthy blood pressure levels. Higher intake of arginine is also linked to lower levels of C-reactive protein, an important marker of a healthy inflammatory response to support cardiovascular health. L-arginine may also help maintain the health of the immune system.

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