arginine bicarbonate

Arginine bicarbonate is a **salt of the amino acid L-arginine and bicarbonate ion**, primarily used as a functional ingredient in oral care products and caries-preventive formulations rather than as a stand-alone systemic pharmaceutical agent.[10][8][2] In this salt form, arginine serves as a substrate for arginine-degrading bacteria in dental plaque, which metabolize arginine via the arginine deiminase system to produce ammonia, thereby increasing plaque pH, buffering acids, and shifting the oral microbiota toward a less cariogenic profile.[4][2] As part of complexes such as arginine bicarbonate calcium carbonate (e.g., CaviStat), it has been shown in clinical studies to reduce caries onset and progression by stabilizing plaque pH and supporting remineralization.[2] Arginine bicarbonate is typically produced by dissolving naturally derived arginine in water and treating it with carbon dioxide to generate the bicarbonate salt, allowing convenient incorporation (around 8% by weight) into toothpaste and related topical formulations for preventive oral care.[10]

Other names

arginine bicarbonate saltarginine bicarbonate calcium carbonate complex