Nitric oxide supplements can help you prepare for your workouts and are meant to be taken as a pre-workout supplement. The active ingredient in most nitric oxide supplements is arginine alphaketogluterate, or AAKG, which is a precursor to nitric oxide. AAKG causes your body to produce nitric oxide, which has been shown to reduce exercise-induced fatigue and promote muscle growth. Nitric oxide can also enhance the production of chemical energy in your muscles and protect your muscles from cellular damage, improving muscle recovery after a workout. There are many types of commercially available nitric oxide supplements on the market. It is important to understand that all nutritional supplements, including nitric oxide products, are not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to treat disease. Consult your physician before taking any nutritional supplement, including nitric oxide.
Fatigue
Fatigue occurs during exercise as a result of a lack of oxygen being delivered to your muscles. The longer and more intense your exercise, the faster fatigue can set in. Having adequate levels of nitric oxide in your body increases the rate at which oxygen is delivered to your muscles, thereby delaying the onset of fatigue. Nitric oxide stimulates your blood vessels to dilate, a process called vasodilation. Dilating your blood vessels increases the amount of oxygenated blood that can be delivered to your muscles while they are under stress.
Muscle Growth
Nitric oxide supplements can promote muscle growth in two ways. First, arginine alphaketogluterate promotes the release of two anabolic hormones: growth hormone and testosterone. These two hormones are responsible for cellular growth throughout the body, particularly in muscle cells after they have been broken down as a result of exercise. Second, nitric oxide increases the flow of nutrients, such as amino acids, to your muscles during exercise. Certain amino acids are transported to your muscles during exercise to act as a protective barrier against muscle damage.
Energy Production
Nitric oxide increases the rate at which your body delivers glucose, or blood sugar, to your muscles during exercise. Glucose, or sugar, is the primary source of energy in your body. When you exercise, the glucose that is stored in your muscles can become depleted. When this happens, your body will shuttle glucose to your muscles from other parts of your body, mainly your liver and fat tissue. Nitric oxide increases the rate at which this process occurs, giving you a constant source of new energy during your workouts.
Muscle Recovery
Muscle breakdown occurs naturally during exercise, resulting in small micro-tears in your muscle fibers. After your workout, nitric oxide promotes muscle recovery by hydrating your muscle cells. This process is known as myofibril hydration. This creates an environment where protein synthesis can take place, forming new proteins that rebuild damaged muscle tissue. Nitric oxide also promotes muscle recovery by aiding in the removal of cellular waste and lactic acid, which accumulates around your muscles during exercise.
References
- "Anabolic Primer"; Phil Embleton and Gerard Thorne; 1998
- "Physiology of Sport and Exercise"; Jack H. Wilmore and David L. Costill; 2004
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