Nitric Oxide & Muscle Growth

Nitric oxide is a naturally occurring gas in the human body that increases blood flow to skeletal muscle. It is this increased blood flow that positively effects the growth of muscle, according to Ryszard Gryglewski and Pietro Muniz's book "Nitric oxide: Basic research and clinical applications." Nitric oxide has become a staple bodybuilding supplement since its commercial introduction in 1996.

• Nitric Oxide is said to help increase muscle.

Composition

• A compound consisting of a single nitrogen atom and single oxygen atom is formed when the amino acid arginine contacts the nitric oxide synthase grouping of enzymes.

Effects

• Nitric oxide is said to increase the blood flow to your muscles and allow your muscles to stay pumped after training. Nitric oxide is naturally produced in the body through the contraction of muscles, such as in weight training. It is created in the endothelial cells that line the inside of the blood cells.when these cells are stimulated via muscle contraction.

  The release of nitric oxide diffuses across the adjacent smooth muscle tissue of the blood vessels, causing vasodilation. Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels caused by the relaxation of smooth muscle tissue. As a result, there is an increase of blood flow.

Benefits

• The increased blood flow allows for a larger transport of essential nutrients to the stimulated area as well as a greater release of metabolic byproducts. All of this allows for enhanced muscle growth. In effect, nitric oxide does not directly result in increased muscle, but creates a situation that allows the muscles to feed off a much larger plate. Bodybuilding.com explains that "by feeding your system more blood, you transport elevated amounts of the various muscle building catalysts directly to your hard-working muscle cells."

Supplementation

• The natural release of nitric oxide allows the stimulated area to stay pumped for about 40 minutes after a workout. Its production is limited by the availability of amino acids and enzymes. Nitric oxide supplements are typically time-released combinations of these amino acids and enzymes, which are intended to allow nitric oxide to be produced and released throughout the entire day. Taking the particular product's suggested dosing before and after workouts daily can significantly increase vasodilation.

Significance

• According to the Journal of Nutrition, a study conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch on the ergogenic effects of arginine states that nitric oxide does, in fact, increase vasodilation. Only the exercised area of the body is affected, resulting in an increase of protein synthesis that translates to muscle growth.