Nitric Oxide Improves Blood Flow

Nitric oxide plays a major role in the dilation of blood vessels.

It is vital for maintaining healthy blood flow,¹ blood pressure,² and platelet function.¹

The problem is that internal nitric oxide production decreases with age.^3,4

Low nitric oxide is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, ⁴ cognitive decline, and dementia.^4,5

Nitric oxide has a short half-life. It gets metabolized and quickly eliminated from the bloodstream.⁶

Aronia berry and a long-acting form of L-arginine each work to boost and sustain higher nitric oxide production.

Importance of Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide is produced by nearly every cell in the body.^7,8 It’s needed to dilate blood vessels, allowing them to open up to increase blood flow.⁹

When we exercise^9,10 or travel to higher altitudes,¹¹ our bodies release more nitric oxide to relieve blood vessel constriction.¹⁰

Nitric oxide is also produced in our nasal cavity when we breathe through our nose. This helps to combat viruses and bacteria.^12,13

The 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to scientists who discovered its role in maintaining cardiovascular health.^14,15

With age, nitric oxide levels decline. This can result in endothelial dysfunction, when these cells lining the inner walls of arteries don’t work properly.⁴ Blood vessels can’t widen when needed, reducing blood flow.

That can lead to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, abnormal clotting, and increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and sudden cardiac death.

Endothelial dysfunction also increases the risk of dementia and cognitive dysfunction.^3,16,17

Long-Acting Form of L-Arginine

For the body to produce nitric oxide, no compound is more important than the amino acid L-arginine. It is the direct precursor nutrient that blood vessels use to make nitric oxide.

In a clinical trial, patients with high blood pressure were given either a placebo or a single dose of L-arginine. Measurements were taken of flow-mediated dilation, how much a blood vessel dilates (widens) in response to an increase in blood flow.

Participants who received the placebo had no change. But those given L-arginine had an average improvement in flow-mediated dilation from 1.7% to 5.9%.¹⁸

Considering that each 1% improvement in flow-mediated dilation correlates with a 12% lower risk of cardiovascular events, this suggests a potential 50% reduction in risk for cardiovascular events.^19,20

A drawback with L-arginine has been that it takes about an hour to take effect and it does not stay in the bloodstream for long.²¹

But scientists have developed a more bioavailable (more enters circulation and can have an effect) form of L-arginine called inositol-stabilized arginine silicate. It works within just 15 minutes and sustains L-arginine levels for up to six hours.^21,22

Inositol-stabilized arginine silicate appears to keep L-arginine levels higher for longer periods because it inhibits the enzyme arginase, which breaks down L-arginine.²³

This stabilized L-arginine form has demonstrated clinical benefits that standard L-arginine hasn’t been shown to achieve.

In three recent randomized, controlled trials, inositol-stabilized arginine silicate improved working memory, processing speed, concentration, and other measurements of cognition in young adults.^24-26

Effects of Aronia Berry

Aronia berries are native to North America and resemble cranberries. They have been thought of as a superfood due to their high content of vitamin C, anthocyanins, and other polyphenols.²⁷

Research indicates that low flow-mediated dilation of blood vessels is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events.²⁰ Research also suggests that aronia berries boost nitric oxide production by increasing the activation of an enzyme that converts L-arginine into endothelial nitric oxide.²⁸

In a randomized, controlled trial, a daily intake of 500 mg of aronia whole fruit berry and extract powder for 12 weeks resulted in a 1.2% improvement in flow-mediated dilation compared to placebo.²⁹ This corresponds to a nearly 14% reduction in the risk for cardiovascular events.¹⁹

In another clinical trial, 101 adults aged 40-60 years old were randomized to receive aronia berry extract or a placebo for 24 weeks.

Cognitive function was assessed using tests including the grooved pegboard test, in which pegs must be precisely rotated to match a slot before they can be inserted.³⁰ This measures psychomotor speed, the ability to quickly think and then perform a motor action.

The results showed that those who received aronia berry extract daily had significantly higher scores on the test after just six weeks than those taking a placebo.

Taking aronia extract along with the new form of L-arginine may lead to even greater levels of nitric oxide production, maximizing the cardiovascular and cognitive benefits.

Summary

Nitric oxide is needed to maintain the health of blood vessels. As production in the body decreases with age, the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cognitive deficits rises.

L-arginine and aronia berry extract have each been shown to increase nitric oxide production.

Research suggests that aronia berry increases the activation of an enzyme that converts the amino acid L-arginine into nitric oxide.

Clinical trials have shown that taking each has benefits for both cardiovascular and cognitive health.

Taking both together may result in ideal levels of nitric oxide production in the body for aging individuals.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

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