Arginine Silicate Compound May Enhance Cognitive Function

Photo © iStockphoto.com/Yakobchuk

New clinical study results suggest Nitrosigine, a bonded arginine silicate ingredient from Nutrition 21 (Purchase, NY), may offer improvements to cognitive function, including focus and mental clarity.

The new findings come as a result of two double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design studies, which asked participants to complete trail making tests (TMT) that assess their speed at connecting an alternating sequence of numbers and letters. Participants consumed 1500 mg/day of Nitrosigine before taking the TMT B, a test associated with “enhanced visual search, speed of processing, mental flexibility, and executive functions under pressure,” according to Nutrition 21.

Researchers found that participants who consumed Nitrosigine achieved significantly improved TMT B times compared with a placebo group, with effects becoming evident in as little as 10 minutes after dosing and continuing to improve over 14 days, says Nutrition 21.

In the first study, TMT B time decreased by 33% in the Nitrosigine group after 10 minutes-a statistically significant difference from the placebo group. In the second study, TMT B time decreased by 13.4 seconds from a baseline time of 47.3 seconds (28% improvement) after 14 days of treatment, while the placebo group experienced only a non-significant decrease of 5.5 seconds.

According to Nutrition 21, the observed improvement in TMT B test times among the Nitrosigine group “preliminarily suggests enhanced complex processing speed associated with cognitive processes, including working memory, reasoning, task flexibility, and problem solving, as well as planning and execution."

Nitrosigine has FDA New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) notification status and is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use in nutritional bars and beverages in the United States at a level of 1,500 mg per day, says Nutrition 21.

“Nutrition 21 is delighted to have additional clinically substantiated benefits of focus and mental acuity to further support our NDI ingredient, Nitrosigine,” says Bill Levi, vice president of strategy and business development, Nutrition 21. “Athletes will be particularly interested in learning how Nitrosigine can affect enhanced visual search, speed of processing, mental flexibility, and executive functions under pressure.”

This research builds on previous research that has indicated Nitrosigine may significantly raise blood levels of arginine and silicon, as well as increase nitric oxide levels, according to Nutrition 21.

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Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com