How does nitric oxide effect the body

Nitric oxide: a key mediator in cutaneous physiology. Clin Exp Dermatol. PubMed Weller R. Nitric oxide--a newly discovered chemical transmitter in human skin. Br J Dermatol. Detection of nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthases in psoriasis. Arch Dermatol Res. PubMed Bredt DS. Endogenous nitric oxide synthesis: biological functions and pathophysiology.

Free Radic Res. The role of nitric oxide in melanoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. A phase 2, controlled, dose-ranging study of SB, an investigational topical nitric oxide-releasing drug, for the treatment of tinea pedis.

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Full name. Email address. Controls vascular tone. Relaxes vascular smooth muscles and reduces blood pressure. Dilates vessels and relieves the pain of angina. Inhibits the aggregation of platelets within the vessels and prevents thrombotic events. Acts as a neurotransmitter , including in the autonomic nervous system. Increases cerebral blood flow and oxygenation to the brain. One of the important mediators in penile erection during sexual arousal.

Flavonoids have powerful antioxidant effects and are found in almost all fruits and vegetables Scientists believe flavonoids not only increase production of nitric oxide but also decrease its breakdown, promoting higher levels overall. However, nitrates have more research supporting their blood-pressure-lowering effects than flavonoids do. Summary Vegetables and fruits contain several compounds, such as nitrate and flavonoids, that may help keep blood pressure under control by increasing nitric oxide levels.

Nitric oxide is involved in many cell processes, including the widening of the blood vessels, or vasodilation. Wider blood vessels help increase the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to working muscles during exercise, thus enhancing exercise performance. These supplements often contain several ingredients that are said to increase nitric oxide, such as nitrate or the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline.

In many analyses, nitrate has been shown to improve exercise performance in cyclists, runners, swimmers and even kayakers 28 , 29 , On the other hand, L-arginine has not proven to be effective for improving exercise performance in many studies 31 , 32 , This is likely because most of the L-arginine that is ingested is metabolized or broken down before it gets a chance to reach the bloodstream, whereas L-citrulline is not For this reason, L-citrulline is more effective than L-arginine at increasing nitric oxide and therefore exercise performance Summary Supplements intended to increase nitric oxide are commonly promoted as performance enhancers.

While the performance-enhancing benefits of L-arginine are minimal, nitrate and L-citrulline may be worthwhile. Nitric oxide production is impaired in people with type 2 diabetes This leads to poor blood vessel health, which can lead to conditions like high blood pressure, kidney disease and heart disease over time.

Therefore, supplements that increase nitric oxide may have important implications for diabetes treatment and disease prevention. One study found that when people with type 2 diabetes took L-arginine, their nitric oxide production increased This increase in nitric oxide also led to increased insulin sensitivity , allowing for better blood sugar control.

Another study in people looked at the effects of L-arginine on preventing or delaying the progression of type 2 diabetes While L-arginine did not prevent people from developing diabetes, it did increase insulin sensitivity and improve blood sugar control.

But until more research is available, it is premature to recommend taking L-arginine supplements to treat diabetes. Summary People with diabetes have impaired nitric oxide production, which can lead to harmful health effects. L-arginine has been shown to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes, but more research is needed before it can be recommended.

Nitric oxide supplements are generally safe when taken in appropriate amounts 39 , 40 , L-arginine taken in doses above 10 grams can cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea Beetroot juice supplements can also turn your urine and stool a dark red color. This is a common but harmless side effect Nitric oxide supplements are generally considered safe.

However, there are some side effects to be aware of, including potential stomach discomfort and diarrhea, as well as dark red stool and urine. Many supplements are claimed to increase nitric oxide in the body and provide impressive benefits for health and performance.

However, other supplements, such as French maritime pine bark extract, have also been shown to increase or maintain nitric oxide levels. For mild cases of erectile dysfunction ED , the amino acid supplement L-citrulline may be a possible treatment. Citrulline is an amino acid that's becoming popular as a supplement for health and exercise performance.

This article reviews the potential benefits. A study in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation found that pregnant women who took L-arginine supplements for a prolonged period had lower blood pressure readings than pregnant women who did not take L-arginine.

Although researchers need to conduct more studies, the results are promising for women struggling with high blood pressure in pregnancy. These are just some examples of more extensive studies that examined the effectiveness of nitric oxide. However, there are no studies that establish how much nitric oxide supplements people should take to achieve the same results as the study participants did. People take nitric oxide for a variety of reasons, many of which do not have any scientific research to support them.

Most of these benefits are anecdotal, meaning that people may have reported a benefit, but there is no proof backed up by a scientific study. For most people, taking nitric oxide supplements does not cause side effects. When side effects do occur, they are often mild and may include:. However, some people should not take the supplements because of the risk of potential side effects. These include people with:. Doctors also have some concerns that taking nitric oxide supplements could make some conditions worse.

These include kidney disease, herpes , and after a person has had a heart attack. A study published in in JAMA found that people taking L-arginine after a heart attack had a higher chance of death, experiencing a repeat heart attack, and being hospitalized than people who did not. This article does not give a comprehensive list of potential conditions where a person should not take nitric oxide supplements. The supplements may also interfere with medications, such as those for diabetes and high blood pressure.

Anyone thinking about taking nitric oxide supplements should talk to their doctor first to ensure they will not interfere with existing conditions or any other medications they are taking. Nitric oxide supplements have been available for decades, but as there is little scientific evidence to back up their use for specific health benefits, doctors do not routinely recommend them.

Instead, doctors may prefer to recommend lifestyle modifications or medications that scientists have proven to treat medical conditions effectively. Nitric oxide supplements do not cause many side effects in most people, so some people might choose to try them.

However, individuals should make sure that they do not have specific medical conditions that nitric oxide could harm. A person should always talk to their doctor before taking nitric oxide or any other supplement to make sure they are making a safe, healthful choice. Resveratrol is a plant compound with antioxidant-like properties.

It comes from red grapes. Learn more. Herbal remedies are a form of traditional medicine that use plants to treat illness.