The Role of Nitric Oxide in Tactical Performance
by Trisha B. Stavinoha, MS, RD, CSCS
TSAC Report
September 2016
Vol 43, Issue 1
Supplements that claim to boost nitric oxide have not been proven to be all that effective since the actual conversion in the blood cell is rather complicated and requires oxygen, which is usually in short supply during exercise or at high altitude. So how does an athlete boost their nitric oxide production?
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This article originally appeared in TSAC Report, the NSCA’s quarterly, online-only publication geared toward the training of tactical athletes, operators, and facilitators. It provides research-based articles, performance drills, and conditioning techniques for operational, tactical athletes. The TSAC Report is only available for NSCA Members. Read more articles from TSAC Report
References
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2. Liu, TH, Wu, CL, Chiang, CW, Lo, YW, Tseng, HF, and Chang, CK. No effect of short-term arginine supplementation on nitric oxide production, metabolism and performance in intermittent exercise in athletes. Journal of Nutrition Biochemistry 20(6): 462468, 2009.
3. Roberts, CK, Vaziri, ND, and Barnard, J. Effect of Diet and Exercise Intervention on Blood Pressure, Insulin, Oxidative Stress, and Nitric Oxide Availability. Circulation 106: 2530-252, 2002.
4. Tang, JE, Lysecki, PJ, Manolakos, JJ, MacDonald, MJ, Tarnopolsky, MA, and Phillips, SM. Bolus arginine supplementation affects neither muscle blood flow nor muscle protein synthesis in young men at rest or after resistance exercise. Journal of Nutrition 141(2): 195-200, 2011.
5. Weitzberg, E, and Lundberg, JO. Novel aspects of dietary nitrate and human health. Annual Review of Nutrition 33: 129-159, 2013.
6. Wylie, LJ, Kelly, J, Bailey, SJ, Blackwell, JR, Skiba, PF, Winyard, PG, et al. Beetroot juice and exercise: Pharmacodynamic and dose-response relationships. Journal of Applied Physiology 115(3): 325-336, 2013
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