Heart transplant hope: amino acid boosts exercise and kidneys?

NCT ID NCT00213915

Completed Disease control Sponsor: University Hospital, Strasbourg, France Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether taking L-arginine, a natural amino acid, for six weeks could improve exercise ability and kidney function in heart transplant recipients. Thirty stable male patients took the supplement twice daily. The goal was to see if it helps with common post-transplant problems like poor exercise capacity and kidney damage from anti-rejection drugs.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: L-arginine (an amino acid supplement)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple supplement to help heart transplant patients exercise better and protect their kidneys.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed phase 4 trial with only 30 men, so results may not apply to everyone. L-arginine may not improve outcomes and could cause side effects.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEART TRANSPLANTATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Institut de Physiologie

Strasbourg, 67091, France
Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire

Strasbourg, 67091, France
Service des Explorations Fonctionnelles Respiratoires et de l'Exercice

Strasbourg, 67091, France

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