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NITRIC OXIDE
Nitric Oxide is a free form gas
that is produced in the body and is used by the body to communicate with other cells in the
body. To produce this gas, enzymes in the body break down the amino acid Arginine.
Nitric Oxide is a molecule
consisting of one atom of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen. The production of Nitric Oxide occurs
when the amino acid L-arginine is converted into L-citruline through an enzyme group known as
Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS).
Despite the claims of some in the
supplement industry, there exists ample scientific literature to substantiate the efficacy of
Nitric Oxide products. The following was written in May 1996 in a document prepared for the
Royal Society and Association of British Science Writers:
"Summary research papers continue
to flood the scientific journals and insights into the biological activity and potential
clinical uses of nitric oxide (NO): a gas controlling a seemingly limitless range of functions
in the body. Each revelation adds to nitric oxide's already lengthy resume in controlling the
circulation of the blood, regulating activities of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach and
other organs."
Since the above was written in
1996, Nitric Oxide containing products have continued to be touted by those in the medical
profession, as well as by athletes looking to add muscle to their frames.
The above quotation states
that Nitric Oxide controls the circulation of blood, transmits messages between nerve cells, and
is a mediator of inflammation and is associated with the process of feeling pain.
The fact that nitric oxide
increases blood flow should make it of interest to bodybuilders, as increased blood flow will
serve to deliver more nutrients to muscles, thus helping muscles become larger when subject to
stress. The fact that Nitric Oxide acts to reduce inflammation should also make it of interest
to bodybuilders as it has the potential to reduce the pain associated with subjecting muscles to
extreme stress.
Nitric oxide also affects the
endocrine system. It affects the release of gonadotroptin releasing hormone, as well as the
release of adrenaline from the adrenal medulla.
WHO NEEDS IT AND WHAT ARE SOME SYMPTOMS OF DEFICIENCY ?
Everyone REQUIRES nitric oxide to
carry out key physiological processes within the body. From a bodybuilder's perspective, nitric
oxide supplementation may prove useful in increasing growth due to increases in blood flow to
certain areas of the body. Signs of deficiency include the inability to achieve and sustain
normal erections, physical weakness and extreme fatigue. Most "nitric oxide" supplements contain
the amino acid Arginine-alpha-keto-glutarate.
HOW MUCH SHOULD BE TAKEN ? ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS ?
With any amino acid containing product,
overdose is a possibility. Dosing with too much arginine can lead to diarrhea, weakness and
nausea. Clear dosing guidelines have not been established, so it is best to do what is known as
"tolerance mapping". Take a small dosage for one week, note the benefits and the side effects,
and increase the dosage until the benefits are maximized and the side effects minimized. Over
time the two will converge and you will hit the optimal dose. This process is similar to
"receptor mapping" for bodybuilders who use insulin. Many protein powders are fortified with
amino acids, including arginine. With this in mind, pay particular attention to how much
arginine you are ingesting from all supplements taken.
Nitric Oxide Supplements
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