Ornithine, Good News or Growth Hormone?

Ornithine is a natural amino acid (protein) that the human body produces. Studies seem to show that ornithine combines with another protein to help promote muscle building in the human body. The idea is that this happens because the combination of the two proteins increases growth hormones such as insulin, though there has been more success in seeing this in test animals than in actual human beings.

It is common knowledge that muscle burns more calories than fat, and so having a muscular body will help to ensure that you burn more calories and lose more weight, even at rest, than if you do not have as much muscle. Still, though the use of ornithine is fairly common among many body builders and athletes wanting an extra push. Whether this protein actually provides that actual boost or if it is simply a common misperception is hard to say since the hard data on humans is severely limited.

The areas where the most evidence seems to be for ornithine being helpful is with patients actually recovering from more serious conditions. Ornithine has shown signs of helping patients with brain abnormalities, cirrhosis, or from a hard recovery (such as from chemo). In natural form ornithine is found where most proteins are found: in various meats and fish. The human body also produces ornithine naturally.

As for actual getting into shape or losing weight, ornithine has been advertised as having a strong positive effects in these areas, and the common belief certainly exists that it works, but there is no hard evidence to support these claims. Ornithine may very well help individuals with their fitness and weight loss goals, or it might not. Proteins in general often have a positive effect on diets, but as with anything, ornithine is not a silver bullet to weight loss, as helpful as it may or may not be.

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