Full text excerpt of The Smart Guide to Better Sex: Chapter 1

The Smart Guide to Better Sex
From Andro to Zinc
Supplements and Herbs to Fire Up Your Sex Life

By John Morgenthaler and Mia Simms
$9.95 - 128 pages, softcover
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Chapter 1

Amino Acids For Amazing Sex

Arginine, Phenylalanine and Tyrosine

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of the human body and of life itself. They make up the muscles, organs, blood cells, enzymes and more. Essential amino acids are ones the body cannot manufacture, while nonessential amino acids can be created from other amino acids. Of these, three amino acids can most positively influence your sex life: L-arginine (conditionally essential), L-phenylalanine (essential) and L-tyrosine (nonessential).

Note: The "L"-configuration denotes that the amino acid is in its natural state. Since this book refers only to the natural state, we will omit the L-configuration from this point forward.

Arginine, which profoundly affects human sexuality, was considered relatively unimportant until the mid-1980s, when researchers Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, coauthors of Life Extention: A Practical Scientific Approach, popularized its use as a dietary supplement by revealing its ability to release growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary gland. While growth hormone alone can positively affect libido, arginine is even more effective.

The Growth Hormone Factor

Growth hormone studies show arginine's dramatic anti-aging effects on elderly persons and its association with a number of physiological benefits. For example, it can enhance sexual desire and performance, promote fat loss, rejuvenate skin tone, strengthen bone density and increase lean muscle mass. However, until the discovery that arginine stimulated the release of GH, GH therapy was only available by prescription and required painful injections of the hormone. It was also quite costly and available primarily overseas — therefore exclusive to the "rich and famous."

When Pearson and Shaw popularized arginine's ability to release growth hormone, along with other benefits, the supplement became a hit virtually overnight. It was especially popular among those who could not afford pharmaceutical growth hormone, as well as with those who preferred an oral supplement over injections. Arginine quickly became the supplement of choice among bodybuilders, dieters and those interested in aging gracefully.

Arginine and Nutrients
Further Boost GH

Further research in the late 1980s showed that arginine significantly speeds wound healing and improves immune function, also through the release of GH. And when the nutrients vitamin B-5 and choline (see Chapter 3) are taken with arginine, the combination appears to be even more effective in promoting GH-release. Other physiological benefits include enhancement of memory and immune function, improvement of muscle tone and mass, and even a reduction in elevated blood pressure.

The Arginine—NO Connection

The most recent and surprising news about arginine is its role in producing powerful prosexual effects in both men and women. This was originally attributed to its role as a GH precursor; however, in the early 1990s, research revealed arginine's role as a precursor of another important molecule known as nitric oxide (NO). In fact, one of the most exciting discoveries was that when arginine produces NO in the body, men can experience bigger, harder and more frequent erections. Some men even report greater endurance with arginine supplementation.

In addition to its libido-enhancing qualities, nitric oxide is essential for several important physiological functions. For example, the body requires adequate levels of NO to maintain healthy blood pressure and immune function, to regulate cancer cells and microorganisms, and even to control muscular activity, balance and coordination.

This arginine-NO breakthrough was so revolutionary that a 1992 edition of Science magazine named NO "Molecule of the Year." In a 1994 edition of the Lancet, one researcher observed that "NO research is now riding on a crest of enthusiasm." He goes on to state that "so far, the basic research on NO has only just begun to make an impact on clinical medicine." Another medical writer calls NO one of the "hottest, most exciting things in neurobiology".

The Erection Connection

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of NO is its amazing ability to maximize erections. In fact, NO is now recognized as the primary neurochemical responsible for penile erections.

A review of the development of an erection shows that the process begins with sexual thoughts, set off by an external stimulus — such as seeing a beautiful woman or a photo of one; or by an internal stimulus (fantasy); or even by a combination of such stimuli. The thought triggers nerve signals to travel down the spinal cord to the penis. When the arteries to the penis receive these signals, they dilate, allowing an increase of blood flow to the penis. This, of course, all takes place in a matter of a seconds.

The muscles that control the rods of spongy penile tissue (corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum) respond to the signal by relaxing. As they relax, the increased blood flowing through the penile arteries fills the spongy spaces with blood and increases the pressure in the penis. As the veins that drain blood from the penis compress, the outflow of blood is prevented. The greater the amount of blood retained in the penis, the larger and harder the erection.

Turn On the Sex Light with NO

Enter nitric oxide, a most important chemical trigger in producing erections. NO plays a critical role in this sequence of events. Upon sexual arousal, NO-saturated nerves become highly responsive. The conversion of arginine to NO goes into high gear, and as NO quickly diffuses to nearby arteries and smooth muscle, they dilate and relax in response. Adequate arginine ensures nitric oxide saturation, and allows the full experience of a maximum erection to occur.

As Dr. Arthur Burnett, a urologist at Johns Hopkins University and leading NO researcher, describes: "It's like turning on a light switch. All you need to light up a room are wires, lamps and light bulbs," and NO is "the switch that starts the process."

So, to light up your sexual life, it makes sense to flick the NO switch on by supplementing with arginine! Why not simply take NO as a dietary supplement? This is not practical, because nitric oxide is a gas, which the body can manufacture, but is highly unstable and impossible to package.

While scientists have developed a compound that increases nitric oxide in the body, it is strictly regulated as a therapy for men who suffer impotence. The product consists of a substance which increases nitric oxide levels through the skin via an advanced transdermal patch. For those who seek a natural over-the-counter (OTC) source of NO, arginine is the answer. It acts as a direct precursor of nitric oxide and helps the body to produce all the NO it needs, when it needs it.

Arginine And Fertility

Scientific data as well as anecdotal reports show that arginine supplements can improve fertility in humans and animals. In fact, arginine has been a trade secret among large animal breeders, who use dietary arginine to enhance the breeding potential of prize bulls and stallions. This supplement is also used to ensure optimal breeding in other species, such as roosters.

While most of the arginine research has been conducted on animals, studies show that arginine supplements can optimize fertility in men with low sperm counts or poor sperm motility. Arginine has been shown to regulate sperm motility, viability and sperm metabolism . Further studies suggest that arginine may also be useful in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in humans.

Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw claim that arginine supplements can double the sperm count in men in as little as two weeks. They tell about two male friends whose wives were not conceiving due to sperm-related complications. When the researchers recommended arginine, the men began taking the amino acid daily. To their surprise and delight, both wives became pregnant within one month of their spouses taking arginine.

The researchers amusingly recount the medical response to the incident: "One of the men's doctors, surprised at the pregnancy, had asked for a sample of the man's sperm and, after examining it, accused our friend of giving him bull sperm, because, he said, the sample had too high a percentage of well-formed, motile sperm to be human sperm!"

Enhanced Libido for Women

Arginine also plays a significant role in sexual arousal for women. As with men, the prosexual effects of arginine appear to be directly related to its ability to generate NO. While the resulting sexual response in women may not be as obvious as an erection, controlled studies of female lab animals show that arginine increases nitric oxide production, which in turn increases sexual posturing and other sexual behaviors.

Dr. Salvador Moncado, a research director at Wellcome Research Laboratories and a leading NO investigator, sheds some light on the subject. He points out that if you place a drop of NO on the muscles that encircle a blood vessel, they instantly relax, which allows more blood to flow through them. He calls NO a "universal transducer," which is a kind of biochemical interpreter that can translate both chemical and electrical messages between cells.

Women Produce More NO!

Curiously, women have recently been found to be more efficient producers of nitric oxide, especially prior to menopause. One recent study showed that perimenopausal women had more whole-body NO production than men, which may explain why many women tend to be in their "sexual prime" during this stage of their lives.

While a number of anecdotal reports indicate that arginine has potent prosexual effects in women, the following animal study best demonstrates its prosexual potential. In female rats, nitric oxide initiates a chain of responses that begins with the release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), followed by the release of luteinizing hormone (LH). This leads to ovulation and also to active sexual interest and lordosis, the sexually receptive posture in females. Conversely, when the animals are given a NO-inhibiting drug, the sexual behavior stops.

Another laboratory study showed that NO is produced in the female uterus, which keeps the uterine muscle from contracting during pregnancy but not during delivery. It was also demonstrated that nitric oxide levels were controlled by the female hormone, estrogen. In yet another study, the importance of arginine was demonstrated when a group of pre-adult female rats were deprived of dietary arginine. The deficiency of this important amino acid was shown to significantly slow their sexual development.

Both Men and Women Can Benefit from Arginine

Clearly, arginine and the ensuing production of nitric oxide are essential to the sexual health and pleasure of men and women alike. While the effect is obvious in men (bigger, harder erections), women report that arginine use increases their pleasure and the intensity experience of sex. As one woman reported, "For me it's [sex] always been intense. But with arginine, it's even more intense." Finally, NO production decreases with age in both sexes, making the significance of arginine supplementation even more important.

Safety and Precautions: Arginine supplements are nontoxic and safe for most people. In one study of surgical healing, massive doses of arginine were given to extremely ill and debilitated patients. These excessive doses produced no toxic side effects.

However, those with serious herpes infections, shingles, ocular or brain herpes, or any other herpes-related conditions, should consult their physician before taking arginine. While arginine does not initiate a herpes attack, any existing herpes virus may utilize arginine molecules to enhance replication.

Arginine can also influence blood sugar levels; therefore, diabetics or borderline diabetics should avoid the supplement. Also, because of the remote chance that GH-activity may promote the growth of any pre-existing cancer, we do not recommend arginine supplements for those with cancer.

Finally, nitric oxide produced from arginine is considered to be a free radical. But because NO has a life span of just a few seconds, it does not fit the standard free radical profile. Therefore, there is no need for concern about excess free radical production when taking the recommended doses of arginine for sex.

Dosage and Timing: For prosexual effects, Pearson and Shaw recommend 6 to 18 grams of arginine (depending on body weight and gender) 45 minutes before sex. Our observations, however, indicate that a dosage as low as 3 grams is enough for most people. For growth hormone release, arginine should be taken one hour before vigorous exercise or just before sleep.

A special note regarding free-form amino acids such as arginine: Amino acids compete for a limited number of transport molecules, which act to deliver amino acids from the blood to the brain. Therefore, it is best to avoid the consumption of other proteins and amino acids (except phenylalanine or tyrosine) for three hours before or two hours after taking arginine.

Hot Tip: The sexual effects of arginine may be further enhanced by taking it in combination with vitamin B-5 and choline. These nutrients have sexual benefits of their own (see Chapter 3) and work best in doses of about 650 to 2,000 mg of choline with one-third the amount of vitamin B-5 (225 to 650 mg). Formulas are available from some manufacturers.

Availability: Arginine is a nutritional supplement and is available at health and natural product stores, and by mail order.

Get In the Mood
with Phenylalanine and Tyrosine

Two amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, are known to affect mood and are closely linked with neurotransmitter action in the brain. In fact, studies indicate that heightened sexual interest may be linked with elevated levels of the brain neurotransmitter, dopamine. Conversely, low dopamine levels correlate with depression and a loss of interest in sex.

Low dopamine levels are also associated with Parkinson's disease. However, when Parkinson's patients are treated with the drug L-dopa (levo-deoxyphenylalanine), not only do they begin to feel better, but they manifest a somewhat alarming side effect called hypersexuality syndrome. The syndrome, characterized by a marked increase in sexual desire and interest, is a relatively common side-effect of L-dopa.

L-dopa is a chemical precursor of dopamine, meaning the body uses L-dopa to make dopamine. Dopamine, in turn, is a chemical precursor of norepinephrine, which is another brain neurotransmitter associated with sexual behavior. Norepinephrine directly stimulates the brain's sex center in the hypothalamus and is considered one of the body's natural prosexual chemicals.

This would lead one to believe that L-dopa is an excellent prosexual drug for healthy people. It can be; however, L-dopa is a prescription medication. Besides, it is entirely possible to manufacture L-dopa for personal use! Here's how: Phenylalanine and tyrosine, two over-the-counter (OTC) amino acids, can be taken on an empty stomach. As L-dopa precursors, they help the body to manufacture the drug naturally. The daily consumption of these amino acids can increase L-dopa levels, which in turn increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels. Taken together or individually, phenylalanine and tyrosine have what it takes to "put you in the mood."

Safety and Precautions: Phenylalanine and tyrosine supplements are nontoxic and safe for most people. High doses of phenylalanine or tyrosine can increase blood pressure in a small minority of individuals who already have diagnosed hypertension. It is best to start with a low dose and increase the amount slowly over several days and weeks while keeping a close watch on blood pressure. People who are taking antidepressant medication in the form of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (or MAO inhibitor or MAOI) should not take these amino acids, since the combination could cause a sudden rise in blood pressure. Deprenyl (see Chapter 6) may be the only exception to this rule.

Dosage and Timing: As a dietary supplement, phenylalanine and/or tyrosine work best when taken daily on an empty stomach. The dosage range for each is 100 to 500 mg, when taken daily. Best results will be noticed after daily consumption of at least two weeks.

As with arginine, phenylalanine and tyrosine should be consumed separately from other proteins and amino acids (except they may be taken along with arginine). Since these need not be taken before sex, they may be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Hot Tip: L-dopa occurs naturally in Fava beans, which are available in health and natural product stores. Phenylalanine and/or tyrosine may be taken with vitamin B-6, vitamin C, folic acid and copper may aid the conversion of L-dopa to dopamine.

Availability: Phenylalanine and tyrosine are nutritional supplements and are readily available at health and natural product stores, and by mail order.

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The Smart Guide to Better Sex From Andro to Zinc Supplements and Herbs to Fire Up Your Sex Life

The Smart Guide to Better Sex
From Andro to Zinc
Supplements and Herbs to Fire Up Your Sex Life