This double-blinded, placebo-controlled study demonstrates that dietary supplementation with L-arginine can modestly attenuate the increased platelet reactivity seen in hypercholesterolemic patients. The data are consistent with our previous studies in hypercholesterolemic animals, demonstrating that L-arginine restores endogenous nitric oxide activity and inhibits platelet aggregation. Enhancement of endogenous nitric oxide activity is a potential novel therapeutic strategy worthy of further study.
