NO2 & Arginine

The amino acid arginine is readily available in meats, eggs, dairy products and through dietary supplements. Once consumed, arginine acts in your body as a chemical precursor to nitric oxide, known by the chemical abbreviation NO. NO can be useful in the treatment of some diseases and is even promoted by health and fitness companies as a useful substance to aid muscle growth.

NO production

According to Louis Ignarro, the Nobel Prize-winning researcher who co-discovered the role of nitric oxide in the body, the body produces NO from two amino acids: arginine and citrulline. Arginine is the most important component to NO production, and your body readily absorbs it through your intestine into your bloodstream. Your body typically receives a sufficient amount of arginine for NO production through your daily diet.

Cardiovascular Disease

The primary use of NO in the body resulting from Ignarro's discovery is the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. NO acts as a vasodilator, meaning that it dilates your arteries so blood can flow more freely in your body. NO is the reason patients with anginal pain take nitroglycerin. Several studies seem to indicate that arginine supplementation may be beneficial in treating congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. However, you should never attempt to treat yourself with arginine supplementation without first speaking to your physician.

Sexual Dysfunction

Arginine's ability to increase your NO levels has led some manufacturers to promote it as a natural cure for impotence. Pharmaceutical drugs like Viagra work on your body by increasing your sensitivity to NO, thus making it easier to achieve an erection. Though some studies have shown arginine supplementation to increase both male and female sexual arousal, the New York University Langone Medical Center reports that this research is not conclusive and the body may simply adapt to higher levels of NO over time, making arginine supplementation useless for treating sexual dysfunction.

Muscle Building

In recent years, athletes have increasingly turned to arginine supplements to increase NO levels in the body, believing that this will improve nutrient delivery and muscle performance. While one 2010 study indicated that arginine supplementation along with the amino acid ornithine may lead to increased growth hormone levels in your body, there is not enough research to conclude that increasing your NO levels will lead to greater muscle building results.