Ornithine

Ornithine/Drug Interactions:

  • Anabolic agentsAnabolic agents: According to a review, ornithine is a nonessential amino acid with anabolic properties (12). According to secondary sources, ornithine is metabolized in the body to arginine, which stimulates the pituitary release of growth hormone.
  • AntidiabeticsAntidiabetics: In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma glucose levels (9). Inhibition of new-onset diabetes mellitus was also seen in individuals undergoing renal transplant with high levels of ornithine (1). In human research, more positive or less negative levels of ornithine were found following insulin treatment (10). In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma insulin levels in some (9), but not all (11), studies.
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In human research, ornithine improved serum levels of triglycerides (16).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: According to secondary sources, ornithine is associated with burning of body fat.
  • CorticosteroidsCorticosteroids: In human research, treatment with corticotropin (ACTH) increased levels of ornithine in the cerebrospinal fluid (27).
  • DexamethasoneDexamethasone: In premature infants, dexamethasone treatment resulted in increased blood levels of ornithine (28).
  • DexfenfluramineDexfenfluramine: In human research, weight loss with caloric reduction and dexfenfluramine resulted in increased serum levels of ornithine (29).
  • Exercise performance agentsExercise performance agents: In human research, ornithine was associated with decreased fatigue in some subjects (16) and increased peak revolution during exercise in others (17).
  • Growth hormonesGrowth hormones: In human research, ornithine increased levels of growth hormone (14). According to secondary sources, ornithine is metabolized in the body to arginine, which stimulates the pituitary release of growth hormone. The infusion of ornithine into pregnant sheep resulted in increased levels of plasma growth hormone (GH) and placental lactogen (PL), but infusion of ornithine into fetal sheep had a lack of effect on GH and PL (26). In human research, a supplement containing ornithine and tyrosine had a lack of effect on growth hormone (30). In human research, a combination of arginine and ornithine resulted in increased growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 and decreased insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (31).
  • Heart rate-regulating agentsHeart rate-regulating agents: In human research, ornithine improved heart rate (16).
  • HepatotoxinsHepatotoxins: In human research, L-ornithine-L-aspartate improved symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy and other liver disorders (32; 33; 34).
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: In human research, a mixture of amino acids, including ornithine, resulted in enhanced adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone responses (13).
  • ImmunostimulantsImmunostimulants: According to a review, ornithine is a nonessential amino acid with effects on the immune response (12).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: According to a review, ornithine is a nonessential amino acid with effects on the immune response (12).
  • IsoniazidIsoniazid: In human research, isoniazid (plus pyridoxine) (35) and isoniazid (36) increased cerebrospinal fluid and plasma levels of ornithine.
  • MethohexitalMethohexital: In neutrophils in vitro, methohexital decreased ornithine in the amino acid profile (37).
  • VasodilatorsVasodilators: In human research, ornithine increased forearm blood flow (15).
  • Wound-healing agentsWound-healing agents: According to secondary sources, ornithine plays a role in wound healing during times of potential arginine deficiency.

    • Ornithine/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Amino acidsAmino acids: Amino acid infusion affected levels of ornithine in human plasma, but the details are unclear at this time (38). In human research, ornithine improved levels of glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and proline (16). In human research, ornithine aspartate decreased plasma levels of amino acids methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, serine, and glycine (9). In human research, ornithine aspartate promoted amino acid retention in peripheral tissue (39).
  • Anabolic agentsAnabolic agents: According to a review, ornithine is a nonessential amino acid with anabolic properties (12). According to secondary sources, ornithine is metabolized in the body to arginine, which stimulates the pituitary release of growth hormone.
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In human research, ornithine improved serum levels of triglycerides (16).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: According to secondary sources, ornithine is associated with burning of body fat.
  • ArginineArginine: In human research, arginine supplementation resulted in increased ornithine status in most (40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49), but not all, studies (50), and, according to a review, arginine is important for the production of ornithine (51). In human research, a mixture of arginine, glutamine, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutarate increased plasma ornithine levels (52), as did a mixture of arginine, nucleotides, and fish oil (53).
  • Athletic performance enhancersAthletic performance enhancers: In human research, ornithine was associated with decreased fatigue in some subjects (16) and increased peak revolution during exercise in others (17).
  • Beta-caroteneBeta-carotene: In patients with sepsis, pharmaconutrition with glutamine dipeptides, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and butyrate, in combination with an immunonutrition formula, resulted in increased ornithine status (54).
  • Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrateBeta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate: In human research, a mixture of arginine, glutamine, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutarate increased plasma ornithine levels (52).
  • ButyrateButyrate: In patients with sepsis, pharmaconutrition with glutamine dipeptides, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and butyrate, in combination with an immunonutrition formula, resulted in increased ornithine status (54).
  • CitrullineCitrulline: In human research, supplementation with L-citrulline-malate (55) or citrulline (56) resulted in increased plasma ornithine.
  • Dipeptide glycyl-tyrosineDipeptide glycyl-tyrosine: In human research, a novel amino acid solution containing dipeptide glycyl-tyrosine resulted in increased plasma ornithine vs. a control amino acid solution (57).
  • Fatty acidsFatty acids: In human research, ornithine improved serum levels of free fatty acids (16).
  • Fish oilFish oil: In human research, a mixture of arginine, nucleotides, and fish oil increased ornithine levels (53).
  • GlutamateGlutamate: In human research, glutamate supplementation resulted in increased ornithine status (58; 46).
  • GlutamineGlutamine: In human research, a mixture of arginine, glutamine, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutarate increased plasma ornithine levels (52). In patients with sepsis, pharmaconutrition with glutamine dipeptides, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and butyrate, in combination with an immunonutrition formula, resulted in increased ornithine status (54).
  • Heart rate-regulating agentsHeart rate-regulating agents: In human research, ornithine improved heart rate (16).
  • HepaticsHepatics: In human research, L-ornithine-L-aspartate improved symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy and other liver disorders (32; 33; 34).
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: In human research, a mixture of amino acids, including ornithine, resulted in enhanced adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone responses (13). The infusion of ornithine into pregnant sheep resulted in increased levels of plasma growth hormone (GH) and placental lactogen (PL), but infusion of ornithine into fetal sheep had a lack of effect on GH and PL (26).
  • Hyperglycemics and hypoglycemicsHyperglycemics and hypoglycemics: In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma glucose levels (9). Inhibition of new-onset diabetes mellitus was also seen in individuals undergoing renal transplant with high levels of ornithine (1). In human research, more positive or less negative levels of ornithine were found following insulin treatment (10). In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma insulin levels in some (9), but not all (11), studies.
  • ImmunomodulatorsImmunomodulators: According to a review, ornithine is a nonessential amino acid with effects on the immune response (12). In patients undergoing esophagectomy, the use of a nutritional "immune-enhancing formula" increased serum ornithine (59; 60). Immunonutrients resulted in increased serum ornithine in other human studies (61).
  • LysineLysine: The effect of oral lysine feeding in gyrate atrophy with hyperornithinemia has been investigated (62). Further details are lacking at this time.
  • NucleotidesNucleotides: A mixture of arginine, nucleotides, and fish oil increased ornithine levels (53).
  • SeleniumSelenium: In patients with sepsis, pharmaconutrition with glutamine dipeptides, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and butyrate, in combination with an immunonutrition formula, resulted in increased ornithine status (54).
  • VasodilatorsVasodilators: In human research, ornithine increased forearm blood flow (15).
  • Vitamin B6Vitamin B6: In case reports involving gyrate atrophy, vitamin B6 resulted in reduced ornithine levels (63; 64).
  • Vitamin CVitamin C: In patients with sepsis, pharmaconutrition with glutamine dipeptides, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and butyrate, in combination with an immunonutrition formula, resulted in increased ornithine status (54).
  • Vitamin EVitamin E: In patients with sepsis, pharmaconutrition with glutamine dipeptides, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and butyrate, in combination with an immunonutrition formula, resulted in increased ornithine status (54).
  • Vulnerary agentsVulnerary agents: According to secondary sources, ornithine plays a role in wound healing during times of potential arginine deficiency.
  • ZincZinc: In patients with sepsis, pharmaconutrition with glutamine dipeptides, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and butyrate, in combination with an immunonutrition formula, resulted in increased ornithine status (54).

    • Ornithine/Food Interactions:

  • CarbohydratesCarbohydrates: Although exercise played a role in plasma levels of ornithine, use of carbohydrate replacement did not affect these exercise-associated changes (65).
  • Total parenteral nutritionTotal parenteral nutrition: In surgical patients receiving total parenteral nutrition, six of 12 patients were not within the 95% confidence interval for ornithine (66). Additional information is lacking at this time.
  • WatermelonWatermelon: In human research, watermelon consumption (a source of citrulline) increased serum levels of ornithine (67).

    • Ornithine/Lab Interactions:

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric acid3-Hydroxybutyric acid: In human research, ornithine improved levels of 3-hydroxybutyric acid (16).
  • Acetoacetic acidAcetoacetic acid: In human research, ornithine improved levels of acetoacetic acid (16).
  • Amino acidsAmino acids: In human research, ornithine improved levels of glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and proline (16). In human research, ornithine aspartate decreased plasma levels of amino acids methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, serine, and glycine (9). In human research, ornithine aspartate promoted amino acid retention in peripheral tissue (39). According to secondary sources, ornithine is metabolized to arginine.
  • AmmoniaAmmonia: In human research, L-ornithine-L-aspartate reduced hyperammonemia (68; 69; 9). However, in healthy exercising subjects, ornithine supplementation increased plasma ammonia (18).
  • Blood glucoseBlood glucose: In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma glucose levels (9). Inhibition of new-onset diabetes mellitus was also seen in individuals undergoing renal transplant with high levels of ornithine (1). In human research, more positive or less negative levels of ornithine were found following insulin treatment (10). In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma insulin levels in some (9), but not all (11), studies.
  • Blood urea nitrogenBlood urea nitrogen: In human research, ornithine improved blood urea nitrogen (16).
  • CreatinineCreatinine: According to secondary sources, ornithine may cause creatinine depletion.
  • Forearm venous occlusion plethysmographyForearm venous occlusion plethysmography: In human research, ornithine increased forearm blood flow (15).
  • GlutamateGlutamate: In human research, following ornithine hydrochloride supplementation of 6.4g, glutamate concentrations were increased by 68% at 60 minutes (70). In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma glutamate (9).
  • Growth hormoneGrowth hormone: In human research, ornithine increased levels of growth hormone (14). According to secondary sources, ornithine is metabolized in the body to arginine, which stimulates the pituitary release of growth hormone. The infusion of ornithine into pregnant sheep resulted in increased levels of plasma growth hormone (GH) and placental lactogen (PL), but infusion of ornithine into fetal sheep had a lack of effect on GH and PL (26). In human research, a supplement containing ornithine and tyrosine had a lack of effect on growth hormone (30). In human research, a combination of arginine and ornithine resulted in increased growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 and decreased insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (31).
  • Heart rateHeart rate: In human research, ornithine improved heart rate (16).
  • HormonesHormones: In human research, a mixture of amino acids, including ornithine, resulted in enhanced adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone responses (13).
  • InsulinInsulin: In human research, ornithine aspartate increased plasma insulin levels in some (9), but not all (11), studies.
  • Insulin-like growth factor-1Insulin-like growth factor-1: In human research, a combination of arginine and ornithine resulted in increased growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 and decreased insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (31).
  • Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3: In human research, a combination of arginine and ornithine resulted in increased growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 and decreased insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (31).
  • Ketone bodiesKetone bodies: In human research, ornithine increased levels of ketone bodies (16).
  • OrnithineOrnithine: In human research, ornithine supplementation improved blood levels of ornithine (16; 17; 14; 11).
  • Placental lactogenPlacental lactogen: The infusion of ornithine into pregnant sheep resulted in increased levels of plasma growth hormone (GH) and placental lactogen (PL), but infusion of ornithine into fetal sheep had a lack of effect on GH and PL (26).
  • Serum free fatty acidsSerum free fatty acids: In human research, ornithine improved serum levels of free fatty acids (16).
  • Serum triglyceridesSerum triglycerides: In human research, ornithine improved serum levels of triglycerides (16).
  • UreaUrea: In human research, ornithine improved levels of urea (16). In human research, ornithine aspartate resulted in increased urea production (9).