Asymmetric Dimethylarginine: A Modifiable Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease

Summary

The origins of cardiovascular disease are clarified by knowledge of the mechanism of formation and action of ADMA. J. Alexander Bralley, PhD, CCN, Richard S. Lord, PhD, Robert David, PhD, Bradley Bongiovanni, ND

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Bralley JA, Lord RS, David RM, Bongiovanni B, Asymmetric Dimethylarginine: A Modifiable Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease. Metametrix white paper (PDF) 2003.

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The endothelium-derived relaxation factor, nitric oxide, provides a unifying mechanism for the action of many cardiovascular disease risk factors. Nitric oxide cannot easily be directly measured, but the inhibitor of its formation, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) can be. The function of ADMA in modulating nitric oxide production has a significant impact on cardiovascular endothelial function. There are inexpensive and safe ways to improve endothelial nitric oxide responses that can be monitored by following ADMA responses. These interventions promise to significantly reduce the mortality and morbidity statistics for heart disease. Plasma ADMA is now available as a routine laboratory evaluation.