Nitric Oxide...Increased nitrogen?

[BDub]

I have a question regarding nitric oxide (commercially known as the supplement NO2 and Nitrix, among others). I lift weights and do cardio 5 days a week and recently started taking this supplement to help me with a plateau that I've hit recently.

I've done some reading, and from what I gather (in a nutshell) NO2 is a free form gas resulting from enzymes breaking down arginine. NO2 or Nitrix have high levels of arginine, along with a transport and other chemicals, allowing you to produce higher levels of nitric oxide.

My first thought is that this could effect on bubble formation, as it appears you are creating more nitrogen in your body.

Anyone have any information on this?

Thanks

Brian

 

[Otter]

If I understand you correctly, you are suggesting that your are creating nitrogen through the chemical breakdown of arginine. I don't know anything about that, but to form bubbles, wouldn't you need to be producing nitrogen significantly faster than your body could off-gas it.

 

[Dr Deco]

Hi Brian:

The amount of nitric oxide in the body is very small. It is insignificant compared to carbon dioxide or water vapor. Nitric oxide could play a role on DCS through its effects on the smooth muscles of the microcirculatory system.

Dr Deco :doctor:

 

[BDub]

Thanks DD

Nitric oxide could play a role on DCS through its effects on the smooth muscles of the microcirculatory system

Can you explain a little more regarding this?

 

[BDub]

Otter-

My concern is that this supplement is taken 2-3 times a day and is supposedly "time released". My understanding is that after the first week or two, the nitric oxide levels in your body are increased significantly and remain relatively constant all day (and night). My concern was the increased level of nitric oxide (containing nitrogen) in my system before, during, and after a dive.

Does that make sense?

 

[Otter]

Otter-

My concern is that this supplement is taken 2-3 times a day and is supposedly "time released". My understanding is that after the first week or two, the nitric oxide levels in your body are increased significantly and remain relatively constant all day (and night). My concern was the increased level of nitric oxide (containing nitrogen) in my system before, during, and after a dive.

Does that make sense?

Doesn't it have to be in a gaseous form to be an issue and if it is, won't it off-gas until it reaches ambient?

 

[BDub]

Otter,

Nitric Oxide is a gas.

As far as the offgassing, that seems like it would be the case, but I didn't know if there were other factors. I didn't know if it was that simple or if there were other considerations.

 

[TheAvatar]

Nitric oxide could play a role on DCS through its effects on the smooth muscles of the microcirculatory system.

I'm going to wager that it probably functions as a vasodialator like NO and therefor lowers the blood pressure and could facilite bubble formation that way if taken with a nitrogen load onboard. Do I win a cookie or am I way off?

 

[gasgirl]

Hi.

Before I take a shot at answering your question, I will qualify my answer by saying that it has been almost 20 yrs since I took organic chemistry. I am also totally unfamiliar with body building supplements but I was intrigued enough by your question to search Nitrix on the internet.

It appears that the supplement, Nitrix, contains arginine, an amino acid, along with various enzymes to aid in the production of nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide relaxes smooth muscle in the walls of arteries and arterioles (the blood vessels that supply oxygen and other nutrients to various tissues). This creates improved blood flow to the organs it supplies. So for example, nitroglycerin generates nitric oxide in the coronary arteries and is used in the treatment of angina. Similarly, Viagra and Cialis releases nitric oxide in the blood vessels of the penis and is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. (I hope I'm not going to be censored for explaining that!)

The NO has covalent bonds that combine the two elements nitrogen and oxygen together to form a molecule. So producing extra nitric oxide (NO) is not the same as producing extra nitrogen (N). I guess an analogy might be that drinking water (H2O) is not the same as drinking hydrogen(H) and oxygen(O).

So my best guess is that taking Nitrix will not increase your chances of DCS and, in fact, may theoretically even decrease it (although probably in a clinically non-significant way), because nitric oxide will help the off-gassing of nitrogen by improving circulation to the tissues.

Anyone else who has more expertise than my recall of organic chem lectures can feel free to correct me!

 

[BDub]

Thanks for the info GG.

I like the analogy.