In previous blog posts (“Want your penis to work? Try flossing your teeth...but skip the mouthwash!” and “Want your penis to work - again? (part 2): A Holistic Approach to Erectile Dysfunction...And Vascular Health”) I discussed the importance of nitric oxide for erectile function and overall vascular health. Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical biochemical that can be impaired by genetics, many lifestyle and other factors, and also declines with age. Since it was first discovered in the 1980s, there has been an explosion of interest and research into this molecule, which was first termed “Endothelium-derived relaxing factor ( EDRF)”. In 1998, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for its discovery. As of this writing, nitric oxide has been discussed in 177,518 published scientific papers! It is actually a gas and therefore rapidly penetrates cells throughout the body. Nitric oxide regulates gene expression and protein structure and function.
Nitric oxide is best known for its importance in blood vessel health (including blood pressure, erectile function, and protection against heart attack and stroke). With improved blood flow comes better nutrient and oxygen delivery. Everything works better with enhanced nutrient delivery and waste product removal. Nitric oxide's effects also play a role in female sexual arousal and peripheral vascular disease. Having good nitric oxide status makes heart attack and stroke less likely but if they do occur the damage to the heart and brain are less. If you have to experience a heart attack or stroke wouldn't it be better to be mild rather than severe (or fatal)?
“Most if not all chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease
are characterized and caused by the loss of nitric oxide production."
Dr. Nathan S. Bryan
In addition to maintaining healthy blood vessels, some of nitric oxide important functions and effects include:
- Stimulation of glucose (blood sugar) uptake into cells. This has widespread effects by influencing energy production in muscle and brain cells
- Reduced complications of diabetes
- Mitochondrial biogenesis, which is the creation of new mitochondria. The mitochondria are known as the "powerhouse" of the cell and are responsible for 95% of the body's energy production from food and oxygen.
- Free radical scavenging
- Anti-inflammation
- Plays a role in killing bacteria, inhibiting viruses, decreasing transplant rejection
- Enhanced learning and memory
- Promotion of positive mood
- Bronchodilation and enhanced oxygen utilization thereby improving asthma
- Regulation of processes important in cancer: apoptosis, angiogenesis, telomerase activation, and uncontrolled cell proliferation
- Improved nutrient absorption
- Regulation of gastrointestinal motility
- Gastrointestinal mucosal protection (reduced ulcers)
- Inhibition of the bacteria H. pylori
- Bladder control
- Healthier bones
- Improved kidney function
- Greater exercise capacity
Hopefully you have an appreciation for the importance of nitric oxide. It influences virtually all aspects of health. Unfortunately, many factors impair nitric oxide at any age. However, nitric oxide insufficiency is a greater problem with age. It is normal for nitric oxide levels to be lower in older people even if they have a good diet and exercise routine. Low nitric oxide levels may play a major role in biological aging and development of all degenerative diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, etc.)
I recommend having an evaluation to investigate the modifiable factors that can impair nitric oxide production. My article, "A Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Erectile Dysfunction" describes this in detail.
Until recently, people over age 40 had no hope of ideal nitric oxide levels even with a great lifestyle. Thankfully, that has changed! Neo40 Professional is a patented nutritional supplement created by top nitric oxide researcher, Dr. Nathan Bryan. Neo40 Professional is a lozenge that releases nitric oxide when dissolved in the mouth. It supplies nitric oxide directly by way of a patented mix of natural ingredients. Neo40 Professional also helps the body restore its own nitric oxide-generating ability. One Neo40 Professional lozenge sustains enhanced nitric oxide levels for 12 hours. One of the first published studies on Neo40 Professional demonstrated improvement in the cardiovascular risk factors C reactive protein and triglycerides. Study participants most commonly reported improved energy and reduced stress. Neo40 Professional has been shown to lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, dilate blood vessels, reduce arterial plaque, improve exercise capacity, and improve blood flow (see pictures below). The first patient I gave Neo40 Professional to emailed me after 3 days to tell me her sinusitis was gone and her asthma improved.
Neo40 Professional increases blood flow as evidenced by increased skin temperature.
Should you take Neo40 Professional ? Is there a test to know what your nitric oxide levels are? Because of stability issues, nitric oxide can't be measured directly by medical laboratories. A few years ago, Dr. Bryan developed a simple screening test for nitric oxide. You simply put a little saliva on a small test strip and wait a few seconds for it to turn color. The test strip actually measures nitrite. Nitrite and nitric oxide are in equilibrium in the body so that nitrite levels reflect nitric oxide levels. Dr. Bryan has one of only two nitric oxide blood analyzers in existence. He has validated that the test strips work. If you have enough nitric oxide then when you test your saliva upon arising in the morning, the tiny pad on the end of the test strip turns a dark pink. With severe deficiency the pad remains white.
If you are over 40, have metabolic syndrome or diabetes, poor circulation, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, or another cardiovascular condition, you’re probably low in nitric oxide. There are, however, many other conditions that are impacted by insufficient nitric oxide.
One of the likely factors contributing to death from COVID-19 is low nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide therapy (using one of the ingredients in Neo40 Professional) is being studied in African-Americans diagnosed with COVID-19. According to Dr Bryan, “Everything we have learned about COVID-19 over the past 10 months reveals that diminished nitric oxide production in patients is what is thought to be responsible for the increased risk of infection and rapid disease progression. This applies directly to the African American population, which often suffers from diminished nitric oxide production. A lack of nitric oxide explains the multi-system disease and dysfunction that persists long after the active infection is gone, including increased risk of blood clots, endotheliitis, kidney, and lung dysfunction. Restoration of nitric oxide appears to be a very safe and effective solution.”
Due to genetics and many modifiable factors, low nitric oxide can be present from childhood. I recommend a thorough Functional Medicine evaluation to identify and target underlying causes of low nitric oxide. Even when this is all done, many individuals will still be in need of “rescue” with Neo40 Professional. Thank God and Dr. Bryan that it exists!
