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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Jun 3:13:53.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-13-53.

Randomised controlled trial of the effects of L-ornithine on stress markers and sleep quality in healthy workers

Mika Miyake  1 , Takayoshi Kirisako, Takeshi Kokubo, Yutaka Miura, Koji Morishita, Hisayoshi Okamura, Akira Tsuda
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomised controlled trial of the effects of L-ornithine on stress markers and sleep quality in healthy workers

Mika Miyake et al. Nutr J. .

Abstract

Background: L-ornithine is a non-essential, non-protein amino acid. Although L-ornithine is contained in various foods, the amount is usually small.Recently, studies have shown that orally administered L-ornithine reduced the stress response in animals.From these findings, we speculated that L-ornithine may play a role in the relieve of stress and improve sleep and fatigue symptoms in humans. Through a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, we asked if L-ornithine could be beneficial to stress and sleep in healthy workers.

Method: Fifty-two apparently healthy Japanese adults who had previously felt slight stress as well as fatigue were recruited to be study participants and were randomly divided into either the L-ornithine (400 mg/day) or placebo group. They orally consumed the respective test substance every day for 8 weeks. Serum was collected for the assessment of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S). Perceived mood and quality of sleep were measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and Ogri-Shirakawa-Azumi sleep inventory MA version (OSA-MA).

Results: Serum cortisol levels and the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio were significantly decreased in the L-ornithine group in comparison with the placebo group. Also, anger was reduced and perceived sleep quality was improved in the L-ornithine group.

Conclusion: L-ornithine supplementation has the potential to relieve stress and improve sleep quality related to fatigue, both objectively and subjectively.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of L-ornithine supplementation on POMS. Means of the change from 0 weeks of each POMS score (A, tension-anxiety; B, depression-dejection; C, anger-hostility; D, vigor; E, fatigue; F, confusion) to 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks: mean ± SE. White circles (○) indicate the placebo and black circles (●) indicate L-ornithine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of L-ornithine supplementation on AIS. Means of the change from 0 weeks of each AIS score to 4 and 8 weeks: mean ± SE. White circles (○) indicate the placebo and black circles (●) indicate L-ornithine.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of L-ornithine supplementation on OSA. Means of the change from 0 weeks of each OSA score (A, sleepiness on rising; B, initiation and maintenance of sleep; C, frequent dreaming; D, refreshing; E, sleep length) to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks: mean ± SE. White circles (○) indicate the placebo and black circles (●) indicate L-ornithine.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of L-ornithine supplementation on serum stress markers. Means of the change from 0 weeks of each stress marker level (A, DHEA-S; B, cortisol; C, cortisol/DHEA-S) to 2, 4, and 8 weeks: mean ± SE. White circles (○) indicate the placebo and black circles (●) indicate L-ornithine.
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