In the supplement world, we refer to NO, Nitric Oxide, as though products in this space define these very terms. Perhaps because the first commercial nitric oxide supplement introduced in 2002, from MRI (Medical Research Institute), was called NO2. To this day, most products in the category incorporate NO or Nitric Oxide in their name. Ironically, these supplements contain no actual nitric oxide.
Let’s examine nitric oxide more closely. We’ll explore what nitric oxide supplements are, their benefits, and present our top picks for the best nitric oxide supplements. Let’s dive in!
The Real Nitric Oxide And A Nobel Prize
Nitric oxide is a gas first discovered in 1772 by chemist Joseph Priestly. NO is a simple molecule consisting of just one atom of oxygen and one atom of nitrogen, and until the 1970s was considered an atmospheric pollutant. In 1977, a chemist researching nitroglycerine discovered that it released nitric oxide. (Note: nitroglycerin is given to patients for heart conditions like angina to promote vasodilation and reduce blood pressure). In 1986, Louis Ignarro discovered that nitric oxide played an essential role in regulating certain biological functions in humans, earning Ignarro and his associates the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology in 1998.
Since 1998, NO has been the subject of some 31,000 scientific papers and mentioned in more than 65,000 articles. This tiny molecule plays a crucial role in cardiovascular health, maintains blood vessel integrity, and regulates blood pressure. It proves essential in other bodily systems such as the immune and nervous systems, and in addressing certain chronic conditions like inflammation.
L-Arginine And Nitric Oxide
During their studies, researchers discovered that the body synthesizes L-arginine into nitric oxide. L-arginine is an amino acid found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products – it is also produced in laboratories for use as medicine or supplements. In medicine, this amino acid treats heart disease, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, and narrowing of blood vessels. L-arginine also stimulates the release of growth hormone, insulin, and other substances in the body.
With its numerous benefits, it wasn’t long before a NO-stimulating product was formulated and entered the nutritional supplement world. As mentioned in our introduction, in 2002, Ed Byrd, the founder of MRI, introduced NO2 for vasodilation and athletic performance enhancement. Byrd was also one of the founders of EAS (Experimental and Applied Sciences), where he introduced the first creatine monohydrate product, Phosphagen.
What Is A Nitric Oxide Supplement?
Now that we understand nitric oxide is a gas, let’s examine what constitutes a nitric oxide boosting supplement. NO products are a category of supplements featuring L-arginine and L-citrulline designed to induce vasodilation and stimulate the release of insulin and growth hormone. L-citrulline, like L-arginine, is an amino acid you can obtain through diet in foods such as meat, nuts, legumes, and watermelons. Like L-arginine, citrulline can be manufactured in laboratories. Another ingredient gaining traction in the NO category is beetroot, which features natural nitrates believed to help enhance NO levels.
Vasodilation refers to the dilation of your blood vessels, meaning your blood vessels become wider to increase blood flow to muscles and lower blood pressure. Some theorize that this increased blood flow also delivers more oxygen to muscles, which may improve athletic performance and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness.
Most nitric oxide products are pre-workout supplements, intended for consumption shortly before physical activity. The most comprehensive pre-workouts typically include ingredients to promote vasodilation, an energy component, a mental focus ingredient, beta-alanine to improve performance, and many include a form of creatine.
The goal for these pre-workouts? They all promise strength gains, stamina, endurance, vascularity, and of course, the pump – the mind-blowing muscle pump.
The outlier in the category is the beetroot trend. While this ingredient appears in some pre-workout formulas, when sold as a standalone ingredient, the focus shifts to general wellness, heart health, circulation, and healthy blood pressure levels, rather than athletic performance.
Nitric Oxide Benefits And Supplementation
There are three primary targets in nitric oxide boosting supplements:
- Athletic performance, strength gains, and muscle gains
- Sexual performance, for those with symptoms of E.D. erectile dysfunction
- General health, heart health, and blood pressure
The greatest number of products in the space are pre-workouts; virtually every sports nutrition company has at least one pre-workout, and many offer multiple versions in various forms such as powders, capsules, and ready-to-drink options. Consider the national sports nutrition brand Cellucor. Their C4 pre-workout has been a bestseller for years, and they’ve expanded the line. C4 is now available as:
- C4 Original
- C4 Ripped Formula
- C4 Extreme Formula
- C4 Ultimate Formula
The products come in the original powder form, as a ready-to-drink, or as the C4 Shred capsule. The powders and On-the-Go RTDs come in an assortment of flavors.
Another popular national brand, Pro Supps, offers two distinct pre-workout brands, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, also available in powder or ready-to-drink formats.
Then there are NO products explicitly marketed for sexual performance, like GNC’s ArginMax. When specialty retailers private label an item, you can be confident the category is sufficiently significant to warrant the investment.
As mentioned, standalone beetroot products take a different approach to NO boosting. We’ll include at least one beetroot product in our “Best Of” segment.
Do Nitric Oxide Supplements Really Work?
The short answer is “Yes,” nitric oxide supplements will improve blood flow. Research shows that both L-citrulline and L-arginine increase nitric oxide levels. As for the purported claims of mind-blowing pumps, that’s more nuanced. Studies show that nitric oxide boosters may improve athletic performance in some people but demonstrate little to no improvement in elite athletes.
Regarding erectile dysfunction, there is clinical evidence that a combination of citrulline and arginine, or citrulline and pycnogenol (a plant extract from pine trees), may improve sexual performance. Recent research suggests that citrulline is the more effective ingredient in nitric oxide synthesis, a trend we observe in newer NO formulations.
Nitrates, found in beetroot and dark leafy vegetables, have some of the strongest clinical evidence for efficacy in addressing blood pressure.
So, will an NO supplement work for you? It depends on your reason for taking the supplement.
Nitric Oxide Supplement Alternatives
We’ve discussed the dietary sources of nitric oxide boosting L-arginine and L-citrulline, so diet is obviously one way to improve your nitric oxide levels. When you consider the effectiveness of nitrates in beetroot, diet could play an even more significant role. Here is a list of nitric oxide boosting foods:
- Beets (of course)
- Meats
- Garlic
- Leafy Greens
- Dark Chocolate
- Nuts and Seeds
- Citrus Fruits
Another strategy to increase NO involves exercise, promoting blood circulation, and maintaining a diet high in antioxidants or supplementing with antioxidants.
Our Picks For The Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
When selecting the best nitric oxide supplements, regardless of the targeted benefit, we followed these criteria:
- We sought products with the correct ingredients to boost NO; L-citrulline, L-arginine, beetroot, etc.
- Transparency was essential – products which listed the dosage of each ingredient and used appropriate dosages of key ingredients
- We ensured the products are manufactured in certified cGMP facilities (Good Manufacturing Practices)
- We looked for companies and brands that have independent third-party testing for quality assurance
Here are our picks for your consideration. Note: we have no bias or affiliation with any of these products.
Cellucor NO3 Chrome
One of our top picks for best nitric oxide supplements is Cellucor NO3 Chrome. This supplement is designed to help you achieve maximum, long-lasting pumps to promote greater muscle gains. It includes NO3 in the form of Arginine Nitrate, which fuses two powerful ingredients – L-Arginine and Nitrate. It also contains Nitrosigine to boost NO levels and promote enhanced blood flow. Additionally, Cellucor NO3 Chrome is creatine and stimulant free.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON CELLUCOR NO3 CHROMEPre Jym, From Jym Supplement Science
Formulated by Jim Stoppani, Ph.D. This brand, originally introduced exclusively on BodyBuilding.com, is now available online and in brick-and-mortar retailers. No proprietary blends, efficacious ingredients at appropriate dosages, cGMP certified facility—as Dr. Jim likes to say, no BS. For nitric oxide uptake, it provides a full six grams of Citrulline Malate, per clinical research studies.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON PRE JYMC4, From Cellucor
The original pre-workout and still one of our favorites, C4 Original. A comprehensive formula featuring Beta-Alanine, Creatine, and Arginine. Yes, there is a proprietary Energy Blend, but the dosages are properly listed for the key active ingredients. C4 represents one of the better values in the category.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON CELLUCOR C4BeetElite, From HumanN Nutrition
For those seeking a pre-workout without stimulants and other more aggressive sports nutrition ingredients, there is BeetElite. BeetElite is a nitric oxide booster containing non-GMO beetroot powder delivering the equivalent of six whole beets. This HumanN product is also Informed-Sport certified, checking one of our boxes for third-party testing, and ensuring BeetElite is free of any banned substances.
HumanN also conducted clinical trials on BeetElite, showing it to be effective in allowing participants to work out longer and recover faster.
We admire HumanN’s approach within the natural products industry and to the nitric oxide category. They offer a variety of products, including another beet product called SuperBeets. The company, formerly Neogenis Labs, introduced Neo 40 to the market in 2011, and it quickly became one of the leading nitric oxide products. The product was developed in partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center’s NO Discovery Program.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON BEETELITENeo40 Daily, From HumanN Nutrition
Our choice for an NO product addressing general health, heart health, and blood pressure is Neo40 Daily. This gluten-free, keto-friendly, non-GMO product was clinically studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled research study and proved effective in lowering blood pressure levels in participants.
We admit Neo40 does contain a proprietary formula including Beet Root Powder, Hawthorne Berry, L-citrulline, and Sodium Nitrate. We make an exception in this instance as Neo40 has become the most prescribed nitric oxide supplement by doctors in the U.S. today.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON NEO40 DAILYStacking Nitric Oxide With Other Supplements
Most NO products for the sports nutrition market already contain a combination of ingredients for energy, focus, etc. Both L-arginine and L-citrulline are sold as standalone products. Should you choose the independent route, you can certainly stack either with creatine, glutamine, caffeine for energy, beta-alanine, or numerous other ingredients.
Final Thoughts
We believe there is sufficient science to recommend incorporating a nitric oxide enhancing product into your regimen. There is substantial evidence of its effectiveness in increasing blood flow, whether you choose L-arginine, L-citrulline, beetroot, or pycnogenol.
