Nitric Oxide (NO) as an Important Auxiliary Substance in the Body

Nitric oxide is generally known as a problematic environmental pollutant from vehicle and industrial emissions. It is an aggressive gas that damages the respiratory tract in high concentrations and prevents oxygen transport in the body. However, nitric oxide also has another, extremely important and useful aspect for us.

High Blood Pressure also damages the innermost layer of the blood vessels - the so-called endothelium. This layer plays important roles in regulating blood pressure, as it influences vascular tension. It contributes to whether a vessel is constricted and less elastic or whether it is relaxed and elastic. The endothelial function is crucial for the body's own production of nitric oxide (NO).

NO has additional important functions in the body beyond its relaxing, so-called vasodilatory effect on the vessels. For example, it inhibits platelet aggregation, preventing blood platelets from clumping together and forming clots. On the surface of the endothelium, it reduces the formation of certain molecules that enable the adhesion of white blood cells (leukocytes), which represents the first stage of atherosclerosis. The formation of free radicals and the oxidation of fats, which also contribute to atherosclerosis, are also reduced by NO. Additionally, it has an anti-inflammatory effect in the body.

Thus, it has multiple positive effects on blood vessels: it relaxes, dilates the vessels, counteracts the formation of atherosclerosis that narrows the blood vessels, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation would, in turn, mean a narrowing of the vessel. Furthermore, it reduces the formation of blood clots that could get stuck in narrow passages and cause a vessel blockage.

Where Does the Useful NO in the Body Come From?

The body produces NO in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels as the innermost layer. For this, it requires an enzyme called NO synthase, which combines the nitrogen-containing amino acid arginine with oxygen. The resulting arginine molecule then releases NO. The rest of the molecule is further processed. The "raw material" arginine is also produced by the body itself - at least in young years.

However, the body's defense cells - the macrophages - are also capable of producing NO to combat bacteria.

In the sinuses, NO is produced endogenously in increased amounts and then absorbed through the breath - especially during nasal breathing. This lowers vascular resistance in the lungs and improves oxygen uptake. There is evidence suggesting that the increased NO production in the sinuses is a defense mechanism of the body against bacteria and viruses.

Unfortunately, the body's own NO production decreases with increasing age. This is partly due to the reduced production of arginine in the body itself. However, arginine can be relatively easily supplied through food. Sunflower seeds, nuts, and legumes are good sources of arginine, for example. But the endothelium itself also ages and loses functionality.

NO precursors, such as inorganic nitrate, can also be ingested through food. In the body, these are first converted into nitrite, from which the body can then derive NO in further steps. A good and researched source for these precursors, with regard to their positive effect on blood pressure, is beetroot - especially in juice form. Other vegetables (especially leafy greens) also contain these important substances.

The following image shows how this transformation occurs in the body:

Since the transformed NO is ultimately also available in the salivary glands, it can be inhaled with every breath. Studies have shown that after drinking 500 ml of beetroot juice, the nitric oxide content in the exhaled air of COPD patients is over 200 percent higher than before consuming the drink.

Organic Beetroot Juice BeetHeart

From the Austrian organic juice manufacturer fitrabbit comes concentrated organic beetroot juice. The nitrate content is about five times that of conventional beetroot juice. The manufacturer recommends 100 ml per day, which corresponds to half a liter of the conventional juice. In the practical 3-liter box, it is shelf-stable for months without refrigeration.
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By Sabine Croci. This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (04/2024).
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Nitric Oxide (NO) as an Important Auxiliary Substance in the Body

Where Does the Useful NO in the Body Come From?

Organic Beetroot Juice BeetHeart

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