The study conducted by Scott Forbes from University of Alberta is named "The acute effects of a low and high dose of oral L-arginine supplementation in young, active males at rest."
The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study examined a low and high dose of oral L-arginine on blood L-arginine, markers of nitric oxide, growth hormone, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-1.
Blood samples were drawn with the athlete at rest, every half hour for three hours after the L-arginine or placebo dose.
The data demonstrated that in healthy, physically active males the two different doses significantly elevated L-arginine concentrations in the blood at rest but neither dose promoted a significant increase in nitric oxide, growth hormone, insulin, or insulin-like growth factor-1.