Ornithine: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Ornithine is an amino acid that is made in the body. It's not used to create protein, but plays a role in other processes. It can also be made in a lab.

Ornithine might help to increase levels of another amino acid called arginine. It might also increase levels of hormones that increase muscle size.

People use ornithine for athletic performance, dry skin, insomnia, wound healing, and other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

Don't confuse ornithine with ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) or L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate. These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

Athletic performance. Taking ornithine by mouth might reduce fatigue and improve some measures of athletic performance.

There is interest in using ornithine for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Ornithine is possibly safe when used at doses up to 500 mg daily for up to 8 weeks and up to 12 grams daily for 4 weeks. It might cause stomach or intestine symptoms.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Ornithine is possibly safe when used at doses up to 500 mg daily for up to 8 weeks and up to 12 grams daily for 4 weeks. It might cause stomach or intestine symptoms.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if ornithine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Ornithine overview.

Dosing

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of ornithine might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

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