Nitric Oxide [NO] – A Supermolecule with Huge Health Benefits

Nitric oxide Benefits: Nitric oxide (NO) is a supermolecule (a chemical compound). It improves your overall health and well-being. NO delays or reverses your biological age and makes you healthy, agile, and fit.

It does so by improving your blood flow to vital organs such as your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, lungs, and genitals.

The main role of nitric oxide is: It widens or relaxes (dilates) blood vessels, improves blood flow through them, and supply oxygen and nutrients-rich blood to cells and tissues.

Nitric Oxide Benefits

For this very reason, nitric oxide has miraculous health benefits as it plays a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication – and a large number of processes in the body including neurotransmission, immune modulation, and vasodilation. It is a vital molecule for the health of blood vessels.

Nitric oxide reduces high blood pressure and improves the healing process and respiratory response [1].

Nitric Oxide Lowers Blood Pressure

Nitric oxide for heart health: Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels by relaxing them and thus helps in decreasing blood pressure. Surprisingly, it also improves endothelial function [3].

This is important because endothelial dysfunction can lead to unhealthy plaque formation (atherosclerosis) – which eventually leads to heart attacks or stroke.
Nitric oxide benefits: A study published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension demonstrated that the use of a single dose of oral active nitric oxide supplement helped in actively lowering blood pressure, restoring endothelial function, and improving vascular compliance in patients with hypertension [3].

Nitric Oxide prevents blood vessel inflammation and Clots formation

Researchers from John Hopkins Medicine Institute have discovered the role of nitric oxide in blocking blood vessel inflammation and preventing clotting. This shows the potential role of nitric oxide in preventing heart attacks and strokes [4].

NO Improves Endurance and Exercise performance

It also helps in improving endurance and performance during exercise. Nitric oxide supplementation could increase oxygen delivery to the muscles – and thus improve exercise performance, athletic endurance, and reduced muscle soreness after workouts [1].

NO improves sexual activity

Nitric oxide boost: It helps in fixing erectile dysfunction in men [1]. According to some published studies, nitric oxide supplements can increase blood flow to the penis and help reduce erectile dysfunction in mild to moderate cases [2].

Nitric Oxide Improves brain function

Poor blood flow may lead to poor oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain. It affects brain performance and function. Adequate production of nitric oxide in the body can help improve blood flow – oxygen and nutrients supply to the brain; decrease inflammation and improve cognitive functions.

Does your food provide nitric oxide?

Yes, beetroot and watermelon provide NO. Several studies have shown significant increases in nitric oxide levels after consumption of beetroot juice and watermelon.

Leafy green vegetables and beetroot have rich nitrate content. They provide nitrite which in turn leads to the synthesis of nitric oxide in the body. There is a separate pathway involved in nitric oxide synthesis by this route – Read more about it.

Vegetables high in nitrates include spinach, beetroot, Lettuce, Chervil, Cress, and Celery.

L- Arginine and L-Citrulline

L-arginine and L-citrulline are the two amino acids that increase the production of nitric oxide in the body. Kidneys convert L-citrulline into L-arginine – which is a precursor to nitric oxide.

If you consume the right amount of L-arginine and citrulline, you will have a sufficient amount of nitric oxide in the body to keep you healthy.

Dietary sources of L-arginine and L-citrulline

L-arginine sources: Fish, poultry, dairy products and red meat.

L-citrulline sources: Watermelon, legumes, nuts and meat.

What supplements improve nitric oxide production in the body?

Best nitric oxide supplement to lower blood pressure: The two most common nitric oxide supplements are L-arginine and L-citrulline. They are commercially available in powder or pill form.

L-arginine

Healthy people make enough L-arginine or get it through diet. Arginine improves blood flow and is effective in lowering blood pressure and improving exercise performance.

L-citrulline

The human body makes all the L-citrulline that it needs.
The pathway responsible for the conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide produces L-citrulline as a byproduct.

L-citrulline recycles back to L-arginine to augment the body’s natural nitric oxide production.

According to several studies, L-citrulline helps improve exercise endurance and performance and lower blood pressure. L-citrulline is relatively safe [5]

Bottom Line

To maximize nitric oxide benefits, ensure adequate levels of this supermolecule in your body. The best way to do this is to incorporate the foods that provide nitrates and amino acids that help produce nitric oxide.

Remember! you can improve nitric oxide levels in the body without taking any supplements.

To know more about the natural ways to improve nitric oxide levels in the body, read

“How To Improve Nitric Oxide Production in the Body Naturally”

References

1. Kiani AK, Bonetti G, Medori MC, Caruso P, Manganotti P, Fioretti F, Nodari S, Connelly ST, Bertelli M. Dietary supplements for improving nitric-oxide synthesis. J Prev Med Hyg 2022;63(suppl.3):E239-E245. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2766
2. Davies KP. Development and therapeutic applications of nitric oxide releasing materials to treat erectile dysfunction. Future Sci OA. 2015 Aug;1(1):FSO53. doi: 10.4155/fso.15.53. PMID: 27019746; PMCID: PMC4806684.
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27019746/
3. Houston M, Hays L. Acute effects of an oral nitric oxide supplement on blood pressure, endothelial function, and vascular compliance in hypertensive patients. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2014 Jul;16(7):524-9. doi: 10.1111/jch.12352. Epub 2014 Jun 24. PMID: 24962851; PMCID: PMC8031495. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24962851/
4. Johns Hopkins Medicine
   HOPKINS RESEARCHERS DISCOVER HOW NITRIC OXIDE PREVENTS BLOOD VESSEL INFLAMMATION
   https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2003/10_17_03.html