1. Matt Waldron
Feb 2, 2015
Sport Nutrition
Julie Hansen
Nitric Oxide Stimulants
My name is Matt Waldron, and I am currently a junior at Weber State University.
I am majoring in the field of Human Performance Management. For this
researchresearch, I will be discussing Nitric Oxide Stimulators. I had originally thought
to do a paper on creatine supplementation, but I was a little late for that so the next one
on the list was Nitric Oxide Stimulator. Since I had heard the name once before, and am
an abide gym enthusiast myself, I thought this would be a good opportunity so do a little
research and figure out if there was anything real about Nitric Oxide as an ergogenic aid.
In the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Nitric Oxide is
mentioned to play many important roles, and in many functions in the body like
regulating vasodilatation and blood flow, to mitochondrial functions and
neurotransmissions (Fernandes, Krause, & Newsholme 2014, para. 23). Strangely enough
Nitric Oxide not actually a solid substance that one ingests; Nitric Oxide is a gas that is
produced in the body by the breaking down of the amino acid Arginine. That being said
whenWhen someone begins to supplement with Nitric Oxide they are actually
addingadding the amino acid Arginine. According toPer the RxEx website "to produce
this gas, enzymes in the body break down the amino acid Arginine. The production of
Nitric Oxide occurs when the amino acid, L-arginine is converted into L-citruline through

2. an enzyme group known as Nitric Oxide Synthase" (RxEx.net). This is whyTherefore,
Nitric Oxide is given the generic name NOS, or Nitric Oxide Stimulator. Instead of
ingesting straight Nitric Oxide a stimulant is ingested to cause its production in the body.
Nitric Oxide is a gas and acts as an ergogenic aid by breaking down of the amino
acid Arginine; "Arginine is converted in the body into a chemical called nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to dilate for improved blood flow" (MedicineNet.com).
In theory with the widening of the blood vessels the body should be able to transport
more oxygen. The purpose for this is supposedly to increase muscular strength and
endurance.
UnfortunatelyUnfortunately, there are still many mysteries about the human body
and performance enhancing supplementation is one of them. Because of this much
research is conducted in this field to identify whether their claims are valid. In an article
on Arginine supplementation published the Journal of the International Society of Sports
Nutrition. Benjamin Wax and associates conducted a study in which sixteen men would
supplement with Arginine while resistance training. In a double-blind cross over test
eight men resistance trained men and eight men untrained for resistance exercise would
ingested either 3000 mg of Arginine or a placebo forty fiveforty-five minutes prior to a
resistance exercise protocol. The conclusion showed that Arginine supplementation
provides no ergogenic benefit on a one repetition at maximum load as measured by
barbell bench press and leg press, regardless of the subjects training status (Wax,
Andreas, Kavazis, Webb, and Brown, 2012 para. 11). This experiment has been repeated
many times with slight variations such as using only fit men, or longer usage times but as
far as most current research is concerned Oxide Stimulators have no ergogenic effects.

3. One study did find Nitric Oxide to have an ergogenic effect on elite male
wrestlers. This article was published by the Department of Sports Medicine at Near East
University Medical School. This study was done using elite male wrestlers. Anyone who
has been around competitive wrestling much knows that there is no sport that with put the
body into a state of exhaustion faster or more completely. In factfact, many matches are
won or lost by who can last longer. In this study nine elite level male wrestlers were
given one dose of Arginine (1.5g x 10kg-1)
after twelve hours of testing. Across the board
there was no difference except that the time until exhaustion increased.
HoweverHowever, the metabolic pathway responsible couldn't be identified (Yauz,
Turnagol, Demirel, 2014, para. 1)
In some research studiesstudies, Nitric Oxide Stimulants have boasted
physiological increases not only in blood flow and circulation, but also in the production
of the human growth hormone. In an article published in the International Journal of
Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism Scot Forbes and associates tested Nitric Oxide
Stimulants to see if Oral L-Arginine supplementation before exercise would blunt growth
hormone production in strength trained males. Fourteen strength trained males ages 21 to
29 participated in a randomized double-blind crossover design. Subjects consumed
(consumed (0.075 g x kg-1 body mass) of Arginine or a placebo before exercise. Blood
samples were collected at rest, before exercise, and at 0, 15, 30, and 60 min of rest-
recovery. The Arginine condition significantly increased plasma L-arginine
concentrations approximately 120% while no change was detected in the placebo
condition. Arginine supplementation ultimately had no effect oh growth hormone
production. (Forbes,Harber, Bell, 2014 p.236). In a similar test Darryn S. Willoughby and

4. his colleagues concluded that the increase in blood hemodynamics of the brachial artery
blood flow was due to the exercise and not due to Nitric Oxide ingestion (Willoughby,
Boucher, Reid, Skelton, Clark, 2001 p. 291).
If anyone is interested in trying out Nitric Oxide Stimulants here is what they
should know. Nitric Oxide is a gas formed in the body after the break down of Arginine
that contributes to vasodilatation that will allow for greater oxygen and nutrient
distribution throughout the body and will increase strength and endurance. The cost to
buy a typical Nitric Oxide supplement is can range from eight to sixty dollars a container
depending on how many servings your want per container, and whether you prefer a
powder mix or tablets ("Bodybuilding.com"). Nitric Oxide Stimulants are taken orally via
powder mix, or tablet. As far as my research can tell Nitric Oxide Stimulants are
completely legal.
As far as safety is concerned; the use of Nitric Oxide is not recommended if you
have low blood pressure, or have recently had a heart attack. Ellen Coleman published
the article Evaluating Popular Sports Supplement and talks about the safe use of Nitric
Oxide.
"Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate appears to be safe in doses up to 12 g/day, with the
exception of its contraindicated use following acute myocardial infarction.
Further research on the safety and effectiveness of arginine alpha-ketoglutarate is
warranted" (Coleman).
As concerning college athletes who wish to use Nitric Oxide to attempt to increase their
performance; Nitric Oxide Stimulators are not listed as prohibited, or restricted in any
way (www.ncaa.org).

5. The literature from which this information was gathered from comes from peer
reviewed journal articles and published medical websites therefore it is fairly
reliablereliable. Judging from the information this product is not very effective as a
performance enhancing ergogenic aid marketing it as one is a little under handed;
howeverhowever, it is sold as a vasodilator. Nitric Oxide is a good vasodilator the
problem is vasodilatation doesn't seem to help performance, so I would say it is
dishonestly marketed. Nitric Oxide Stimulators do cause physiological events with in the
body, but ultimately do not appear to have any ergogenic effects.

6. Reference List
Cruzat V. F., Krause M., Newsholme P., (2014). Amino acid supplementation and impact
on immune function in the context of exercise. Journal of the International
Society of Sports Nutrition. (61). Score (2.1).
Forbes S. C., Harber V. Bell G. J., (2014). Oral L-Arginine Before Resistance Exercise
Blunts Growth Hormone in Strength Trained Males. International Journal of
Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. 24 (9), pp.236. Score (2.5).
Wax B., Kaviazis A. N., Webb H. E., Brown S. P., (2012). Acute L-arginine alpha
ketoglutarate supplementation fails to improve muscular performance in
resistance trained and untrained men. Journal of the International Society of
Sports Nutrition. (), pp. Score (2.5).
Willoughby D. S., Boucher T., Reid J., Skelton G., Clark M., (2011). Effects of 7 Days of
Arginine-Alpha-Ketoglutarate Supplementation on Blood Flow, Plasma L-
Arginine, Nitric Oxide Metabolites, and Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine After
Resistance Exercise. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise
Metabolism. pp.291-299. Score (2.3).
Yavuz H. U., Turnagol H., Demirel A. H., (2014). PRE-EXERCISE ARGININE
SUPPLEMENTATION INCREASES TIME TO EXHAUSTION IN ELITE
MALE WRESTLERS. Score (2.1).
Bodybuilding.com (2014). NOS supplements. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/catalog/search results.jsp#/store/?
q=NOS&type=5&key=AllContent. [Last Accessed February 5, 2015]. Score (0.5).
Coleman E., (2008). Evaluating Popular Sports Supplements. SCAN Nutrition
Information Series. pp. 2. Score (3).
Raise Your Nitric Oxide. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.exrx.net/Nutrition/Supplements/NitricOxide.html. [Last Accessed
February 8, 2015]. Score (0.5).
MedicineNet.com (2009). L-Arginine. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.medicinenet.com/l-arginine/supplements-vitamins.htm. [Last
Accessed February 10, 2015]. Score (1.5).
NCAA (2014). 2014-15 NCAA Banned Drugs. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.ncaa.org/health-and-safety/policy/2014-15-ncaa-banned-drugs. [Last
Accessed February 9, 2015]. Score (3).

7. Reference List
Cruzat V. F., Krause M., Newsholme P., (2014). Amino acid supplementation and impact
on immune function in the context of exercise. Journal of the International
Society of Sports Nutrition. (61). Score (2.1).
Forbes S. C., Harber V. Bell G. J., (2014). Oral L-Arginine Before Resistance Exercise
Blunts Growth Hormone in Strength Trained Males. International Journal of
Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. 24 (9), pp.236. Score (2.5).
Wax B., Kaviazis A. N., Webb H. E., Brown S. P., (2012). Acute L-arginine alpha
ketoglutarate supplementation fails to improve muscular performance in
resistance trained and untrained men. Journal of the International Society of
Sports Nutrition. (), pp. Score (2.5).
Willoughby D. S., Boucher T., Reid J., Skelton G., Clark M., (2011). Effects of 7 Days of
Arginine-Alpha-Ketoglutarate Supplementation on Blood Flow, Plasma L-
Arginine, Nitric Oxide Metabolites, and Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine After
Resistance Exercise. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise
Metabolism. pp.291-299. Score (2.3).
Yavuz H. U., Turnagol H., Demirel A. H., (2014). PRE-EXERCISE ARGININE
SUPPLEMENTATION INCREASES TIME TO EXHAUSTION IN ELITE
MALE WRESTLERS. Score (2.1).
Bodybuilding.com (2014). NOS supplements. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/catalog/search results.jsp#/store/?
q=NOS&type=5&key=AllContent. [Last Accessed February 5, 2015]. Score (0.5).
Coleman E., (2008). Evaluating Popular Sports Supplements. SCAN Nutrition
Information Series. pp. 2. Score (3).
Raise Your Nitric Oxide. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.exrx.net/Nutrition/Supplements/NitricOxide.html. [Last Accessed
February 8, 2015]. Score (0.5).
MedicineNet.com (2009). L-Arginine. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.medicinenet.com/l-arginine/supplements-vitamins.htm. [Last
Accessed February 10, 2015]. Score (1.5).
NCAA (2014). 2014-15 NCAA Banned Drugs. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.ncaa.org/health-and-safety/policy/2014-15-ncaa-banned-drugs. [Last
Accessed February 9, 2015]. Score (3).