Nitric oxide vs antioxidants

[drkelp]

Hey guys, I like to use arginine, citrulline, etc to encourage nitric oxide for blood flow as do some others. However it's come to my attention that at some point it's a free radical. Also using antioxidants may decrease nitric oxide? How do we get the best of both worlds? Any thoughts?

 

[DorianGray]

The nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway to NO, which can be modulated by diet, as well as the enzymatic synthesis from L-arginine benefits from the addition of antioxidants.
"Antioxidants, such as vitamin C and polyphenols, can positively affect NO production from both pathways. First, they help protect the essential cofactors for the NOS pathway, such as tetrahydrobiopterin, from becoming oxidized. Second, the presence of antioxidants protects NO from being scavenged once it is produced. Third, vitamin C and polyphenols can facilitate the reduction of nitrite to NO in the presence of an electron acceptor, thereby providing a recycling pathway. Lastly, vitamin C and polyphenols are very potent inhibitors of nitrosation reactions. Collectively antioxidants promote beneficial effects of nitrate and nitrite reduction to NO..." Nitrite and Nitrate in Human Health and Disease. Second Edition.2017 Bryan, Nathan; Loscalzo, Joseph.

Another good reason to consume vitamin C and high quality olive oil.

 

[drkelp]

Good stuff thanks DG