What is nitric oxide (NO) products?

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Nitric Oxide is a gas in the body that is created when enzymes break down the amino acid arginine. The N stands for nitrogen and the O stands for oxygen. NO is one atom of each. Nitric Oxide Synthase is the enzyme group that breaks down the arginine and converts it into citruline which causes the NO production.

Nitric oxide travels around in the body and acts as a neurotransmitter, an intracellular messenger, and a hormone. It is probably best known for its intracellular messenger functions within the bodybuilding community.

The way the intracellular messenger function works is to dilate blood vessels which allow more blood to flow and allowing more transfer of oxygen and nutrients into the cells thus allowing better growth, energy production, and maintenance. Blood is also a transport method for waste and bi products such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid. So as the blood vessels are dilated then more can be delivered to the cells and taken away from the cells as well resulting in faster recuperation.

Your body only produces a certain amount of NOS enzymes so if you take in large amounts of arginine then it may be too much for your body to utilize. You should take added Pycnogenol and ginsenosides (ginseng extract) as they will enhance the NOS enzymes for better efficiency.