Nitric oxide (NO) is a naturally occurring chemical that widens blood vessels and stimulates the release of many hormones in the body.

Nitric oxide supplements include things like L-citrulline and L-arginine. Researchers have done a plethora of clinical investigations on nitric oxide supplementation, and their results are often conflicting.

This article will look at the roles that nitric oxide plays in the body, as well as the benefits and risks associated with taking nitric oxide supplements.

What role they serve in the body as a whole

Supplemental nitric oxide has the ability to dilate blood vessels. The Nitric oxide supplement  is important there. Most often, amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline are used to increase nitric oxide levels in the body.

Proteins’ building blocks, or amino acids, like L-arginine may be found in meals including red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. It’s manufactured in some kind of laboratory setting, and then sold as a pill, powder, or cream.

L-citrulline is another form of amino acid that may be found in watermelon, meat, nuts, and legumes. Also, L-citrulline may be synthesised in a lab and sold as a pill or powder.

The average amount of L-arginine a person consumes daily without using nitric oxide supplements is around 5 grammes, according to an article published in The Journal of Nutrition, a reputable scientific journal (g). The body uses this as a precursor to nitric oxide, a gas with numerous beneficial effects.

Nitric oxide in the body is hypothesised to either generate arterial dilation or to induce relaxation. The nitric oxide pathway is used by certain medications, including Viagra, to enhance blood flow to the penis and hence improve erection strength.

An increase in blood flow is thought to have several benefits, including enhanced sports performance, accelerated healing, better heart health, and maybe even more. Nitric oxide supplements are often used to achieve these goals.

Despite the many potential uses and benefits of nitric oxide supplements, not much research has been conducted to support many of the claims that have been made about them.

Research-based advantages

Some of the benefits of nitric oxide consumption, according to studies:

Maintains and improves heart health

A new article published in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications suggests that taking nitric oxide supplements may have a number of positive effects on one’s cardiovascular system. Improved carotid artery blood flow, reduced blood pressure, and reduced arterial stiffness are just a few of these benefits. However, it’s important to remember that the researchers only studied animals, not humans, to find evidence of these effects.

Boosting performance while training and resting

Athletes might benefit from using nitric oxide supplements to improve their performance. Researchers have speculated that using nitric oxide supplements might increase the amount of oxygen reaching the muscles. This may help improve sports performance and reduce soreness in muscles afterward.

According to a study published in the journal Sports Medicine, using nitric oxide supplements may help you handle the after-effects of exercise better. This, however, is only of use to individuals who either did not exercise regularly or who exercised just moderately.

Nitric oxide pills do not help elite athletes, the research found. The effects of nitric oxide supplementation on elderly people or women are unknown since the studies were only done on young males.