CompoAtlas

Arginine in food supplements

1,603 supplements declared in France contain Arginine as a substance or active ingredient.

Compl'Alim declarations. Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

What health agencies say

An opinion says what the agency recommends; it is not a rule binding on the product.

ANSES states that arginine supplements are contraindicated in people who have previously had a myocardial infarction. It also notes that their effects on lowering blood pressure and dilating blood vessels can add to those of certain medicines.

ANSES, opinion of 7 November 2016, 2014-SA-0008.

What we know about this ingredient

Associated research

ClinicalTrials.gov · A trial is not proof: it tests a hypothesis.

Searched on 1 November 2026.

In plain words

À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants

Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (Arginine) : sport (435 produits), tonus sexuel (263 produits), cheveux et ongles (140 produits), peau (64 produits), immunité (55 produits).

Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.

Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

What the registers say, country by country

Each line repeats what an official register says on the date it was consulted. Not being in a register means neither allowed nor banned.

Health claims register (European Union): 0 authorised and 10 refused claim(s) for this substance.

EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Compl'Alim ingredient list (France): listed.

Compl'Alim, reference list of ingredients, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Canada, licensed natural health products (LNHPD): 3 products.

Licensed Natural Health Products Database (LNHPD), Health Canada: licensed products, ingredients, doses, uses and risks, retrieved 27 October 2026.

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada (Health Canada, LNHPD)

Licence du gouvernement ouvert – Canada 2.0 (OGL-Canada 2.0)

United States, supplement labels (DSLD; supplements need no prior approval): 362 products.

Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), US National Institutes of Health: current and off-market labels, retrieved 27 October 2026.

Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Dietary Supplement Label Database (CC0); US market labels.

Malaysia, registered products: 3 products.

NPRA, Malaysian pharmaceutical products register, retrieved 27 October 2026.

Ministry of Health Malaysia / NPRA, Pharmaceutical Products, CC BY 4.0

CC BY 4.0

Taiwan, registered products: 2 products.

TFDA, Taiwan tablets, capsules and medical nutrition registers, retrieved 27 October 2026.

Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), Open Government Data License, version 1.0

Open Government Data License, version 1.0

Declared daily quantities

Declared daily quantities: Arginine
UnitProductsMedianMinimumMaximum
mg268198.556,000

Calculated from Compl'Alim declarations that provide a quantity. These are quantities declared by manufacturers, not measurements, and preparation is not distinguished (powder, extract of varying concentration): differences between products can be very large.

Official warnings (Health Canada)

L-ARGININE

Route of administration: Oral

Cautions and warnings

Condition of application: All products.

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Condition of application: Improvement in exercise capacity in individuals with stable CVD.

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician if your symptoms worsen.

Applies to products providing more than 0.42 g of L-Arginine, per day.

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician before use if you have a cardiovascular disease and are attempting an increase in physical activity (Doutreleau et al. 2010; Doutreleau et al. 2006; Schulman et al. 2006; Goldman and Ausiello 2004; Nagaya et al. 2001; Bednarz et al. 2000; Ceremużyński et al. 1997; Rector et al. 1996).

8 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician before use if you are taking medication for cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction, and/or blood thinners (Huynh et al. 2002; Parker et al. 2002; Siani et al. 2000; Adams et al. 1995).

4 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Contraindications

Applies to products providing more than 9 g of L-Arginine, per day.

Do not use if you have had a heart attack/myocardial infarction (Sun et al. 2009; Schulman et al. 2006; Bednarz et al. 2005).

3 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Known adverse reactions

Applies to products providing more than 9 g of L-Arginine, per day.

When using this product you may experience gastrointestinal discomfort/disturbances (Grimble 2007; Evans et al. 2004; IOM 2005; Clarkson et al. 1996).

4 studies cited in the text have no matching reference in the monograph (see the anomalies listed on the sources page).

Health Canada monograph dated 25 July 2025

Texts from the monograph of Health Canada, the Canadian authority, reproduced without modification. They do not replace medical advice.

Products