Should i take nitric oxide supplements

While some reported that dietary supplementation with NO donors induced benefits in exercise performance, others did not find any positive effect. In this regard, training status of the subjects seems to be an important factor linked to the ergogenic effect of NO supplementation. Studies involving untrained or moderately trained healthy subjects showed that NO donors could improve tolerance to aerobic and anaerobic exercise.

However, when highly trained subjects were supplemented, no positive effect on performance was indicated. In addition, all this evidence is mainly based on a young male population. Abstract Nitric oxide NO has led a revolution in physiology and pharmacology research during the last two decades. The most recent research suggests that L-arginine may lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol and improve overall blood vessel health.

A review of several studies found that adults with high blood pressure who took daily L-arginine supplements lowered their bottom diastolic blood pressure number by about 2 to 3 millimeters of mercury mm Hg. When it comes to heart health, L-arginine may work better when combined with other vitamins, such as vitamins B6 and B However, larger, more-robust studies are needed to confirm these findings before experts can recommend everyday use of these supplements.

It's important to know that L-arginine supplements can interact with some medications, including:. Don't take L-arginine if you've had a heart attack.

There are concerns that the supplement might increase the risk of death. Don't take L-arginine supplements if you've had cold sores or genital herpes. Too much L-arginine in your system can activate the virus that causes those conditions. A healthy diet and regular exercise are among the best ways to keep your blood pressure healthy.

If you're thinking about taking an herbal or dietary supplement, such as L-arginine, talk to your doctor first.

Some supplements can interact with blood pressure medications or make certain health conditions worse. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.

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Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure? Products and services. Can L-arginine supplements lower blood pressure? With Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.

Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Some scientists believe that nitric oxide in the body relaxes or widens blood vessels. Some medications, such as Viagra harness the nitric oxide pathway to promote blood vessel widening and improve blood flow to the penis to enhance erections. Many people think that taking nitric oxide supplements will enhance blood flow in the body to improve performance in sports, promote healing, enhance heart health, and provide many other potential benefits.

While there are many potential uses and benefits for nitric oxide supplements, there is not a lot of research to support some of the claims.

According to an article published in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications , taking nitric oxide supplements offers several heart boosting effects.

These include reducing arterial stiffness, reducing blood pressure , and improving carotid artery blood flow. However, it is important to note that the researchers studied animals, not humans, to find these effects.

Researchers theorize that taking nitric oxide supplements could enhance the delivery of oxygen to muscles. This could potentially improve athletic performance and reduce soreness after a workout. According to an article in the journal Sports Medicine , studies have shown that taking nitric oxide supplements may enhance tolerance to exercise.

However, this only applies to those who did not exercise regularly or only exercised at a moderate rate. The research has not shown that nitric oxide supplements can help elite athletes. Researchers carried out these studies on young males, so they do not know how nitric oxide supplements may affect older people and females.

Because nitric oxide supplements enhance blood flow, researchers have conducted studies to determine if it could enhance blood flow for people with erectile dysfunction ED. According to an article in the journal Future Science OA , some studies have shown taking nitric oxide may reduce ED in those with mild to moderate ED. Preeclampsia , which is a form of high blood pressure that can occur in pregnancy, can be dangerous for both the woman and baby. 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:.