2020 Volume 3 Issue 2 Pages 31-36
Background：The metabolic profile of arginine is a potential biomarker for coronary artery disease (CAD). The global arginine bioavailability ratio (GABR), the ratio of the serum arginine level to the sum of the serum levels of its metabolites [L-arginine/(L-citrulline + L-ornithine)], has been reported as a marker of arginine bioavailability. The association between GABR and CAD was examined in an outpatient setting. Methods and Results：Serum levels of arginine and its related metabolites were measured in 234 cardiovascular outpatients (185 male, 49 female; age, 66 ± 12 years). The patients were divided into two groups: 118 (50%) patients with CAD [CAD (+)] and 116 (50%) patients without CAD [CAD (−)]. There were significant differences in the serum concentrations for the CAD (+) vs. CAD (−) groups, respectively, as follows: L-arginine (86 ± 23 μmol/L vs. 78 ± 22 μmol/L; p=0.003), L-citrulline (138 ± 60 μmol/L vs. 115 ± 65 μmol/L; p=0.005), L-ornithine (64 ± 28 μmol/L vs. 50 ± 29 μmol/L; p<0.001), asymmetric dimethyl arginine (0.57 ± 0.18 μmol/L vs. 0.50 ± 0.18 μmol/L; p=0.004), the ratio of L-arginine (Arg) to L-citrulline (Cit) (0.70 ± 0.29 vs. 0.92 ± 0.61, p=0.001), and GABR (0.46 ± 0.15 vs. 0.55 ± 0.24, p=0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for clinical variables, the ratio of Arg/Cit and GABR were significantly associated with CAD. Conclusions：Our results suggest that the metabolic profile of arginine, especially Arg/Cit and GABR, has independent predictive value for the presence of CAD over traditional risk factors in an outpatient setting.
