General Dosage
2-6 g daily, taken before bed or before exercise
Maximum dose: Doses up to 12 g have been used acutely; GI side effects common above 6-8 g
L-Ornithine Dosage Guide
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Dosage Recommendations
General recommendation: 2-6 g daily, taken before bed or before exercise
Timing: Before bed for sleep; 60 min before exercise for fatigue; with meals for liver support
Dosage by Condition
Exercise fatigue
2-6 g before prolonged exercisePreliminary
Sleep quality
400 mg before bedPreliminary
Hepatic encephalopathy (LOLA)
9-18 g/day L-ornithine-L-aspartateStrong
| Condition | Recommended Dose | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise fatigue | 2-6 g before prolonged exercise | Preliminary |
| Sleep quality | 400 mg before bed | Preliminary |
| Hepatic encephalopathy (LOLA) | 9-18 g/day L-ornithine-L-aspartate | Strong |
Upper limit: Doses up to 12 g have been used acutely; GI side effects common above 6-8 g
Timing & Absorption
Before bed for sleep; 60 min before exercise for fatigue; with meals for liver support
Can be taken with or without food.
References
- Miyake M, Kirisako T, Kokubo T, et al. (2014). Randomised controlled trial of the effects of L-ornithine on stress markers and sleep quality in healthy workers. Nutrition Journal. DOI PubMed
- Sugino T, Shirai T, Kajimoto Y, Kajimoto O. (2008). L-ornithine supplementation attenuates physical fatigue in healthy volunteers by modulating lipid and amino acid metabolism. Nutrition Research. DOI PubMed
- Butterworth RF, McPhail MJ. (2019). L-Ornithine L-Aspartate (LOLA) for Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis: Results of Randomized Controlled Trials and Meta-Analyses. Drugs. DOI PubMed