Nitric Oxide (NO) plays a role in healthy erectile function. Learn if NO supplements can help improve sexual health concerns.
Nitric Oxide is a potent chemical signal found in the body.
Nitric Oxide, or NO, is responsible for producing healthy vessel dilation to help with things like keeping up with oxygen demand during exercise, healthy blood pressure, good circulation, and, yes, even normal erectile function.
Since we know that Nitric Oxide plays a role in erectile function, it has led people with erectile dysfunction to wonder if they can just increase their Nitric Oxide by upping NO-production-inducing foods or by taking a supplement. However, we might not quite have an answer on the effectiveness of this strategy yet.
Below, we will cover the exact role that NO plays when it comes to erectile function, what impaired Nitric Oxide activity may have to do with ED, if Nitric Oxide boosting supplements can help with ED, and which people should avoid using these supplements.
Nitric Oxide is part of the chemical signal cascade which turns mental stimulation into an erection, by helping to open up penile vessels.
In fact, Nitric Oxide is so pivotal to sexual function that blocking the quick breakdown of NO to keep it around longer is how ED medications like Sildenafil (Viagra) and Tadalafil (Cialis) work.
If your body produces less NO than usual, you may notice weaker erections or ones that do not last as long. Your Nitric Oxide production naturally declines with age, so much so that a 70 to 80-year-old has lost about 75% of their NO production as compared to a 20-something.
Some studies suggest that some men with ED may have an insufficient release of Nitric Oxide that is causing or contributing to the dysfunction.
Reduce NO activity may occur due to increased age, penile surgery, trauma of the area, and even existing health conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
While there are not supplements that just give you raw Nitric
Oxide, there are some ingredients that have been found to stimulate the body to produce more NO.
We know that some supplements can give the body the building blocks to produce more Nitric Oxide like L-Citrulline, L-Arginine, and Pycnogenol, a pine bark extract.
Since these supplements can increase your body’s production of NO, can they then improve ED symptoms? Unfortunately, the studies are not yet conclusive. Many studies have small sample sizes, or are only done on animal models. Some suggest that there are no erectile improvements by supplementing with NO enhancers, while other trials suggest a benefit.
The real answer here, is we don’t currently know if NO-enhancing supplements can help out, but there is a possibility. It is also worth noting that not all men that experience ED are lacking in NO, while others are. This could potentially help explain why we aren’t seeing blanket improvements through the use of NO-enhancing supplements.
Just like how not every medication is appropriate for every person, supplements may not be appropriate for use in every person.
There may be a connection between people who have had a previous heart attack and an increased chance of death when taking L-Arginine supplements.
Also, people with low blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a genetic guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency should avoid taking NO supplements.
Additionally, supplementing with NO-enhancing supplements like L-Arginine may have the side effect of gastrointestinal upset including diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, bloating, vomiting, and also headache.
Always talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement to make sure it is safe for you to use.
A healthy level of NO production is important for good sexual function in men. But, unfortunately, these levels decline with age, penile damage, and related medical conditions. Some studies suggest that some men with ED produce less Nitric Oxide, contributing to the condition.
Some supplements like L-Arginine, L-Citrulline, and Pycnogenol can give the body the building blocks to produce more NO. But, it is unclear if these supplements can help all men with ED. The conclusions seem to be mixed on studies looking into these supplements and erectile function.
There may be side effects from these supplements including gastrointestinal upset and headache. Also, people who have had a heart attack, have low blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, or certain genetic deficiencies should avoid NO-inducing supplements.
If you get the ok from your doctor to try NO increasing supplements for your ED, you can try them out. But, you may not get the same response as using a prescription medication.
Here at Strut, we offer the most popular and effective erectile dysfunction medications including Sildenafil (generic Viagra) and Tadalafil (generic Cialis).
If you are ready to see if these medications are a good fit for you, simply select the treatment you are considering and complete a free online questionnaire-based telemedicine consultation in under 15 minutes.
Our U.S. doctors will review your information and make sure treatment is appropriate for you. Then, your medication will be put together at a U.S. pharmacy and shipped to your front door with our free shipping.
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