by Health supplement. Nitric oxide, or NO, plays an important role in many bodily functions like cardiovascular health, immune function, and muscle growth. By taking nitric oxide boosting supplements, many people aim to experience the potential benefits of increased NO levels in the body. This article will provide an overview of nitric oxide supplements including their uses, how they work, popular types, benefits and risks.
What is Nitric Oxide?
Nitric oxide, or NO, is a gaseous signaling molecule produced naturally by the body. It helps to regulate many functions including blood flow, nerve signaling, and muscle contraction. NO is produced when the amino acid L-arginine is broken down by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme. This NOS enzyme is found in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels.
NO signals the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels to relax, causing vasodilation and widening of the arteries. This improves blood flow and circulation throughout the body. NO also serves important roles as a neurotransmitter in the brain and helps immune cells communicate. Maintaining optimal NO levels is important for cardiovascular health, cognitive function, muscle growth and more.
Uses of Nitric Oxide Supplements
Some popular uses and desired benefits of taking nitric oxide boosting supplements include:
– Muscle Pumps and Workout Performance: NO supplements aim to enhance the pump during weight training by dilating blood vessels and improving circulation to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to working muscles. Some claim it can boost exercise capacity and recovery.
– Heart Health: Increased NO levels help to lower blood pressure and reduce risks of heart disease by promoting healthy vasodilation. Supplements may offer some heart protective benefits.
– Sexual Health: NO supplements are sometimes used to support erectile function and libido in men by enhancing blood flow to the genitals.
– Immune Support: A healthy NO level supports immune cell function which is important for fighting infection and disease. Supplements may help boost immunity.
– Brain Health: NO acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and is involved in neural communication. There is some evidence it plays a role in preventing conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
Popular Types of Nitric Oxide Supplements
There are a few main types of NO boosting supplements on the market with varying ingredients and mechanisms of action:
– L-Citrulline: Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid Nitric Oxide Supplements that the body converts to L-arginine to boost NO levels. It bypasses the liver and may be more effective than taking arginine directly.
– L-Arginine: Arginine is the amino acid precursor to NO and supplementation aims to provide extra substrate for NO synthesis. Absorption can be limited due to first pass metabolism in the liver.
– Beet Root Extract: Nitrate from beetroot is metabolized in the body to form NO. Studies show it can lower blood pressure and boost exercise performance.
– Nitrosigine: A patented form of L-arginine bonded to silicon that is proposed to be better absorbed than plain arginine.
Benefits and Risks of Nitric Oxide Supplements
Potential benefits of NO supplements when used as directed include:
– Improved cardiovascular health through lower blood pressure and reduced cardiac stress.
– Enhanced muscle pumps and oxygen delivery during training leading to better workouts.
– Increased stamina, endurance and recovery from exercise.
– Support for cognitive and immune system functions through NO’s many roles in the body.
– Some evidence it can benefit sexual health in men.
While NO boosting supplements have good safety profiles at common doses when used short term, there are some possible risks:
– Arginine may trigger headaches in susceptible individuals due to excess NO production when taken in very high doses.
– Citrulline and beet juice are generally better tolerated with minimal risk of side effects.
– Long term safety is unproven due to lack of extensive clinical research on supplement use.
– Drug interactions are possible when taken with nitrate medications like nitroglycerin which could lower blood pressure too much.
– Claims of enhanced muscle growth are unsubstantiated and NO alone is not a magic muscle builder.
Nitric oxide plays an important signaling role in the cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems. By taking supplements aimed at boosting NO levels like citrulline, beet root or nitrosignine, there is a possibility of experiencing benefits to exercise performance, heart health and more. However, more research is still needed on long term safety. NO supplements are generally low risk when used as directed by healthy adults but should be avoided by those on nitrate medications without consulting a physician first.
Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
