What Do Nitric Oxide Supplements Do?

By Esme Spence


Relatively new on the health market are nitric oxide supplements. Nitric oxide made its first big appearance in 1992 when it was named "molecule of the year" by the American scientific community; however, little was released scientifically about nitric oxide prior to that time. Not immediately released to lay persons was some scientific research done prior to the 1992 research, which was presented only at a conference of scientist in 1986. These first findings eventually led to a Nobel Prize for the three scientists involved in this very beginning research on nitric oxide Nitric oxide has a sister molecule, arginine (also known as l-arginine), which is actually converted to nitric oxide in the body through a process known as nitric oxide synthase. Both of these molecules, while relatively new in terms of scientific research, have exhibited benefits to cardiovascular health and other body systems.

Nitric oxide (commonly abbreviated as NO) should not to be confused with nitrous oxide or "laughing gas". NO is a molecule produced by the body naturally until about 40 years of age. After 40, production rapidly declines within the cells of the body. Called the "molecule of life", NO appears to be, in some cases, as important to the body as oxygen. Nitric oxide production, or non-production, is a determining factor in many major body systems' health, including the heart, lungs, and circulation. Promising results have been shown for nitric oxide supplements for treatment of the following: cardiovascular disease, shock, cancer, impotence, inflammatory diseases, asthma and even memory loss.

And what do the studies show about nitric oxide supplements? Numerous studies have already been conducted testing the known uses for NO within the body and even more intensive research is sought as old and new uses are discovered. A study performed at Baylor University in Texas, for example, converted l-arginine found naturally in the body into NO using supplements in males who regularly attend the gym for intensive work outs. Thirty-five males, who were resistance trained, were matched for fat-free mass and assigned one of two groups. This double-blind study had one group taking a placebo and the other group taking a supplement. The study was conducted over a period of eight weeks and either a placebo or supplement was taken three times a day, depending upon the assigned group. No significant changes in body mass or composition were seen in either group; however, those taking supplements could lift more and do more repetitions then those only taking the placebo.

Nitric oxide supplements have indications for everyday medical use as well. In fact, the benefits of NO, while all are not known at this time, could totally change the way patients are treated for heart problems. The CDC has reported recently that over 31.3% of the adult population in the US currently has high blood pressure. Hypertension is generally treated with prescription medications, changes to diet, exercise and stress management. Those who choose to go this medical route do not all respond to traditional methods, however. An estimated 26% of patients with hypertension who follow medical advice and take heart medications still do not have their blood pressure under control. In all cases of high blood pressure, but especially those that cannot be controlled through traditional means, NO has been proven to be a powerful vasodilator, meaning that it causes the smooth muscle within the heart to relax. NO's vasodilator benefits naturally nourish and repair the endothelium and this helps to naturally maintain normal blood pressure levels.

The only real drawback to nitric oxide is how relatively new the research into this molecule is. While studies on this molecule have only more than promising, many in the medical community still do not know about the benefits of NO to body systems. More extensive and intensive research still needs to be done to determine the long term effects of NO on body systems. While many, many studies report positive results for the increase of NO in the body, results claiming any negative effects, if any exist, are premature at best.

L-arginine supplements, more commonly known as nitric oxide supplements, have shown great promise for increasing nitric oxide production in the body and, in turn, helping to maintain healthy body systems.




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