What is Nitric Oxide Synthase?
NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE
Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an enzyme responsible for producing nitric oxide (NO), a molecule that plays an important role in regulating blood vessel function and blood pressure. There are three types of NOS: endothelial NOS (eNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS).
Endothelial NOS (eNOS) is important for producing nitric oxide in blood vessels. When eNOS is activated, it produces nitric oxide, which helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow.
Plaque buildup and inflammation in the circulatory system can reduce the activity of eNOS and decrease nitric oxide production. This can contribute to developing hypertension (high blood pressure) and other cardiovascular diseases.
What can boost NOS?
Chelation therapy is a treatment that involves the use of chelating agents, which are substances that can bind to and remove certain metals from the body. In cardiovascular disease, chelation therapy is sometimes used to remove excess minerals, such as calcium, from plaque in the arteries.
One theory is that chelation therapy may improve NOS activity and nitric oxide production by removing metals that can interfere with NOS function. However, the evidence for this is still limited and more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of chelation therapy for cardiovascular disease.
Fasting
Both juice and water fasting have been shown to have potential health benefits that may indirectly support NOS production and improve cardiovascular health.
For example, juice fasting and water fasting can help to reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote weight loss, all of which can contribute to better cardiovascular health. By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, fasting may also help to support NOS activity and increase NO production.
One study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism found that a 3-day water fast led to significant improvements in various cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, blood lipids, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. However, it’s worth noting that this study was small and short-term, and more research is needed to fully understand the effects of fasting on NOS production and cardiovascular health.
It’s also important to note that fasting may not be appropriate or safe for everyone, especially those with certain medical conditions or who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s important to speak with your healthcare provider before starting any fasting or dietary changes to determine if it is safe and appropriate for you.
What can lower NOS?
Several health conditions and lifestyle factors can affect NOS production and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the body. Some examples include:
- Diabetes: Diabetes can impair NOS activity and reduce NO production, which can contribute to the development of cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.
- Obesity: Obesity can lead to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which can impair NOS activity and decrease NO production.
- Smoking: Smoking can damage blood vessels and reduce NOS activity, leading to decreased NO production.
- Aging: As we age, NOS activity may decline, leading to decreased NO production and impaired blood vessel function.
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels and impair NOS activity, leading to decreased NO production.
- Certain medications: Some medications, such as certain blood pressure medications, can interfere with NOS activity and decrease NO production.
- Chronic kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease can lead to impaired NOS activity and reduced NO production, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Seedy Friends
There is some evidence to suggest that the consumption of certain seed oils, such as soybean oil and corn oil, may reduce nitric oxide (NO) production by impairing NOS activity.
For example, a study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology found that rats fed a diet high in soybean oil had reduced NOS activity and NO production in their blood vessels compared to rats fed a diet high in coconut oil.
Another study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology found that rats fed a diet high in corn oil had reduced NOS activity and NO production in their blood vessels compared to rats fed a diet high in olive oil.
While these findings suggest that certain seed oils may impair NOS activity and reduce NO production, it’s important to note that these studies were conducted in animals. The relevance to humans is not yet fully understood. It’s also worth noting that many other factors can affect NOS activity and NO production, including lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, as well as genetic and environmental factors.
Brush & Floss
There is also good evidence to suggest that good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, may help to support nitric oxide (NO) production by promoting healthy bacteria in the mouth.
Studies have shown that certain types of bacteria in the mouth, such as those that cause gum disease, can produce harmful toxins that can impair NOS activity and reduce NO production. By promoting healthy bacteria in the mouth through good oral hygiene practices, it may be possible to reduce the levels of harmful toxins and support NOS activity and NO production.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that people with periodontitis (a type of gum disease) had lower levels of NO in their saliva compared to people with healthy gums. Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that treating gum disease with scaling and root planing (a type of deep cleaning) led to significant improvements in NOS activity and NO production in the blood vessels.
Nitric Oxide Synthase & Grape Seed Extract
There is some good evidence to suggest that grape seed extract may have a positive effect on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production.
Grape seed extract is rich in antioxidants, including flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, which may help to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can impair NOS activity and NO production.
A study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology found that treatment with grape seed extract led to significant improvements in NOS activity and NO production in the blood vessels of rats with high blood pressure.
Another study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that grape seed extract increased NOS activity and NO production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which line the inner surface of blood vessels.
While these findings suggest that grape seed extract may have potential benefits for NOS and NO, it’s worth noting that more research is needed to fully understand the effects of grape seed extract on cardiovascular health and NOS activity in humans.
How Does It Boost NOS?
The exact mechanism by which grape seed extract may boost nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production is not fully understood. However, several potential mechanisms have been proposed.
One potential mechanism is that grape seed extract contains high levels of antioxidants, including flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, which may help to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation can impair NOS activity and NO production, so reducing these factors may help to support NOS and NO.
Another potential mechanism is that grape seed extract may help to increase the availability of the amino acid arginine, which is a precursor for nitric oxide synthesis. Arginine is converted to NO by NOS, so increasing the availability of arginine may help to support NOS and NO production.
Additionally, some research has suggested that grape seed extract may help to increase the expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS), which is one of the three types of NOS enzymes that produce NO in the body. By increasing eNOS expression, grape seed extract may help to support NOS and NO production in the endothelial cells that line the inner surface of blood vessels.
While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which grape seed extract may support NOS and NO production, these potential mechanisms suggest that grape seed extract may benefit cardiovascular health.
Hawthorne Berry
Hawthorn berry has been suggested to potentially support nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production through a few different mechanisms.
Firstly, hawthorn berry contains high levels of flavonoids, including vitexin and rutin, which have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Oxidative stress and inflammation can impair NOS activity and NO production, so reducing these factors may help to support NOS and NO.
Secondly, hawthorn berry has been suggested to help increase the availability of the amino acid arginine, a precursor for nitric oxide synthesis. Arginine is converted to NO by NOS, so increasing the availability of arginine may help to support NOS and NO production.
Thirdly, hawthorn berry has been shown to have potential vasodilatory effects, which means it may help to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow. This may help to support NOS and NO production by providing more oxygen and nutrients to the endothelial cells that produce NO.
Finally, hawthorn berry has been suggested to have potential benefits for endothelial function, which is closely related to NOS and NO production. Endothelial cells produce NO through the action of NOS, and endothelial dysfunction has been linked to impaired NOS activity and reduced NO production. By supporting endothelial function, hawthorn berries may help to support NOS and NO production.