THE
ROLE OF NITRIC
OXIDE IN BODYBUILDING
By:
Chester Ku-Lea
Nitric
Oxide, a key molecule
manufacturered
by the body, causes
vasodilation (an
expansion of the
internal diameter
of blood vessels),
which in turn
leads to increased
blood flow, oxygen
transport, delivery
of nutrients to
skeletal muscle
and a reduction
in blood pressure.
An amino acid
compound called
arginine alpha-ketoglutarate
(A-AKG) and arginine-ketoisocaproate
(A-KIC) can boost
short term Nitric
Oxide levels.
Increased strength
and markedly improved
stamina can also
be expected. In
fact, the results
may be classified
into three categories:
1) the promotion
of an extended
pump; 2) signaling
muscle growth
and speeding recovery;
3) increasing
strength and stamina.
NO2
contains A-AKG
and A-KIC, natural
myodilators that
may help boost
nitric oxide levels
in your body,
thereby increasing
blood flow, oxygen
transport, and
delivery of nutrients
to skeletal muscle.
- NO2 contains
A-AKG and
A-KIC which
may help your
muscles experience
an extended
pump.
- NO2 contains
A-AKG and
A-KIC which
may help your
body signal
muscle growth
and speed
recovery.
- NO2 contains
A-AKG and
A-KIC which
may help improve
your strength
and stamina.
- NO2 utilizes
the A-DS Advanced
Delivery System
which enhances
absorption
of the active
compounds
to insure
uptake and
help sustain
powerful effects
around the
clock.
Who
needs it and what
are some symptoms
of deficiency?
Everyone
needs nitric oxide
to carry out key
physiological
processes within
the body. From
a bodybuilder's
perspective, nitric
oxide supplementation
may prove useful
in increasing
growth due to
increases in blood
flow to certain
areas of the body.
Further, men suffering
from erectile
dysfunction may
also find supplementing
with nitric oxide
helpful.
Signs
of deficiency
include the inability
to achieve and
sustain erections,
physical weakness
and extreme fatigue.
Most "nitric oxide"
supplements contain
the amino acid
Arginine-alpha-keto-glutarate.
What
are the side effects?
With
any amino acid
containing product,
overdose is a
possibility. Dosing
with too much
arginine can lead
to diarrhea, weakness
and nausea. Clear
dosing guidelines
have not been
established, so
it is best to
do what is known
as "tolerance
mapping". Take
a small dosage
for one week,
note the benefits
and the side effects,
and increase the
dosage until the
benefits are maximized
and the side effects
minimized. Over
time the two will
converge and you
will hit the optimal
dose.
Benefits
- improves
strength and
stamina
- increased
muscle growth
and recovery
- increases
muscle pum
Chester
Ku-Lea is a health
nutrition consultant
and is the owner
of www.AstroNutrition.com
- a provider of
premium health
nutrition and
sports supplements.
