Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Arginine creatine (more commonly, creatine and arginine are studied separately) is used to support or treat wasting (muscle wasting, as seen in cachexia or sarcopenia) based on scientific evidence, though the strength of evidence is moderate and primarily relates to creatine itself.

Creatine supplementation has been studied for its ability to enhance muscle mass and strength, particularly in individuals with muscle-wasting conditions such as muscular dystrophy, HIV/AIDS, and age-related sarcopenia. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated that creatine supplementation, often combined with resistance training, may improve muscle mass and physical performance in older adults and people with muscle-wasting diseases. The proposed mechanism involves increased phosphocreatine availability, which supports ATP regeneration during muscle contraction, aiding in muscle maintenance and growth.

Arginine, an amino acid, has been investigated for its role in stimulating growth hormone release and nitric oxide production, which may theoretically support muscle anabolism. However, robust clinical evidence for arginine alone, or in combination with creatine (as "arginine creatine"), specifically for treating wasting, is limited.

While creatine is generally supported by moderate-quality evidence for adjunctive use in muscle wasting, the evidence for arginine is weaker, and the combination has not been as extensively studied. Therefore, the scientific justification is primarily due to creatine, with an evidence rating of 3 out of 5 for this indication.

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