l-Arginine ethyl ester (LAEE) is a sports supplement used widely in the bodybuilding community. Claims that taking LAEE is superior to taking l-arginine are based on an assumption of greater bioavailability suggesting lower doses, though these claims have not been proven. For these claims of increased absorption to be true, LAEE must be resistant under physiological conditions to hydrolysis to l-arginine and ethanol. The rate of hydrolysis of LAEE as a function of pH, temperature and buffer concentration has been determined. The experimental rate law of the hydrolysis of LAEE and a hypothesized mechanism are reported.

Kinetics of the non-enzymatic hydrolysis of aqueous l-arginine ethyl ester in vitro

255th National Meeting (2018)

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