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FACT CHECKEDNitric oxide are a couple words thrown around a lot when it comes to supplements. The promise of nitric oxide boosters giving unreal muscle pumps has been known for a while in lifting circles. Now with more research coming out, we're starting to understand the benefits of how raising nitric oxide levels in the body can be helpful outside of the gym as well.
We've compiled a list of 7 best nitric oxide supplements that will be a match for the most dedicated gym-goer to someone that is just looking to improve their circulation and cardiovascular health.
Our team of fitness and health experts at SET FOR SET started by evaluating each supplement's ingredient profile to ensure they have scientific backing in boosting nitric oxide levels. We then scrutinized product purity and safety, prioritizing supplements that are free from harmful additives and are manufactured in facilities that adhere to stringent quality controls. Finally, we considered our first hand experience, consumer feedback and testimonials. Lastly, we looked at value for money, comparing the cost versus the benefits offered, to recommend options that provide the best balance of affordability and quality.
Our top pick for overall best nitric oxide supplement is PUMP from Transparent Labs.
On their transparent labeling you can see the exact dosages of each ingredient you can expect to get in every scoop. They've conveniently broken down what every ingredient is, the exact dosage, and on the website have cited sources and studies as to why they have been included in their product.
Their pump ingredients start with a clinically studied dose of l-citrulline, which is an effective vasodilator. L-citrulline is a precursor to nitric oxide, which is why you will often see it in nitric oxide supplements.
They have included 8,000mg per scoop of L-citrulline that will get your blood flow up, boosting nitric oxide levels, helping to lower blood pressure.
Following up the huge dose of l-citrulline, is 2,500mg of NO3-T® Arginine Nitrate, which is another effective way of increasing nitric oxide production, increasing vasodilation and getting more blood flowing.
Also included is 2,500mg of betaine anhydrous which has been becoming a staple in the best nitric oxide supplements available. Shown to increase muscle strength and support protein synthesis, betaine, through a series of chemical reactions in the body can trigger the body to trigger more of its own natural creatine. Betaine has also been shown to improve hydration and pumps as a result of keeping everything properly lubricated.
As mentioned earlier, if you want a full breakdown of why each ingredient was included, Transparent Labs provides detailed explanations on why everything was made part of this effective formula.
All of the ingredients are dosed so they will work properly with one scoop, eliminating the need to double-up on scoops.
Transparent Labs PUMP is designed to get your blood moving and create shirt-ripping pumps that will have you wonder why you're just getting on the PUMP train now...
Nutricost L-Citrulline tops our pick for best budget nitric oxide supplements.
You are getting exactly what you are expecting with this product. 100% pure L-citrulline is the only thing in this bottle. Citrulline acts as a vasodilator, expanding your blood vessels, increasing blood flow, and getting you those massive pumps you have been looking for.
Available in two different sizes, a 250 gram option, which at 3g per serving comes to 83 servings, and a 1.32lb container which holds 200 servings.
Nutricost is 3rd-party tested, made in a GMP compliant factory, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegetarian product.
3 Grams of L-Citrulline Per Serving (83 Servings) No Malate, Just Pure Base Powder...
Gorilla Mode Nitric is our choice for best nitric oxide supplement pre-workout without any stimulants.
This is a kind of pricey nitric oxide supplement at $59.99 for a 695 gram container, but is well worth the investment.
Gorilla Mode has made a nitric oxide boosting supplement without any caffeine or stimulants usually found in pre-workouts, making this a great product for someone who has a caffeine sensitivity, or someone who works out at night and doesn't want to deal with the insomnia that can occur taking other nitric oxide supplements too close to bed.
Packed full of ingredients that increase nitric oxide production, this nitric oxide supplement is all killer, no filler.
This pre-workout boasts 10,000mg of L-citrulline per two scoops of powder to boost nitric oxide levels. 10,000mg is the maximum effective dosage of citrulline, which is not offered in any other pre-workout on the market. To be clear, this is L-citrulline and not citrulline-malate, which is a mix of L-citrulline and malic acid, so you know exactly how much citrulline you are getting in each scoop. L-citrulline helps boost nitric oxide production, which means bigger pumps, less DOMS, and more endurance in the gym.
This nitric oxide supplement has 5,000mg of Creatine monohydrate in it, which is a long used and well documented ingredient that improves power output and strength, as well as adding muscle size. 5,000mg of creatine meets the daily dose needed to reap the benefits of the supplement.
Working along with the creatine is 4000mg of GlycerPump™, which is an easily mixable form of glycerol which increases water uptake in the body which results in hydration for longer. The added hydration results in larger muscle pumps, harder muscles, better definition, and longer endurance. GlycerPump™ also results in the better uptake of creatine and citrulline, so you get the most out of the product.
4000mg of betaine anhydrous produces a synergistic effect with GlycerPump™, resulting in hyper-hydration, keeping you working out for longer and looking better while you do it.
The 1500mg of Nitrosigine® is a nitric oxide booster made from a bonded arginine silicate, which works as a vasodilator to improve blood flow as well as strengthens and makes arterial walls more flexible.
Stacked with 1,500mg of agmatine sulfate, the increase in activity of eNOS floods muscles with even more blood flow, for truly amazing pumps.
254mg of VasoDrive-AP® assists with vasodilation, and is often used for help controlling blood pressure within healthy levels. VasoDrive-AP® is considered an ACE inhibitor, which increases oxygen and nutrient carrying ability amongst other things.
1,500 mg of sodium nitrate works with the VasoDrive-AP® increasing nitric oxide levels through a different NO pathway.
All total, this nitric oxide supplement has 30,754mg of plasma expanders, volumizing agents, and precursors to enhance nitric oxide production.
All of that results in this pre-workout being a little harder to mix, and most likely won't fully dissolve when mixed. So that means you should get ready for some texture when drinking it.
Gorilla Mode Nitric comes in eight different flavors: Cherry Blackout, Jungle Juice, Lemon Lime, Lemonade, Mojo Mojito, Tigers Blood, Volcano Burst, and Watermelon.
The ONLY pre-workout in the entire industry featuring the maximum effective dosage of PURE L-Citrulline that IS NOT artificially inflated with Malic Acid on the label. The huge spike in Nitric Oxide significantly increases pumps...
Huge Supplements Magnify nitric oxide supplement is our choice for best tablet form of nitric oxide on Amazon.
Each bottle contains thirty servings and costs $44.95. Each serving is compromised of six tablets, which can be a bit much for some people. But in those 4360mg of ingredients you get decent value.
These nitric oxide pills have 1,500mg of l-arginine complex, made from three forms of arginine. A l-arginine HCL, a l-arginine AKG, and l-arginine. Each bringing something a little different than the other.
There is 1,000mg of beetroot extract (Beta Vulgaris) included, which is high in nitrates and means you can expect enhanced nitric oxide levels as well as a healthy dose of vitamin C, due to beets containing a high amount.
1,000mg of L-citrulline will increase nitric oxide levels and create a synergistic effect with the L-arginine complex according to some research studies done. This one-two punch lowers blood pressure and can improve blood flow throughout the body.
VAS06™ is a green tea derived product than has been shown to increase vasodilation at a much higher percentage than L-arginine, for an even higher amount of blood flow and nutrients being brought into working muscle pumps. This is adequately dosed at 400mg.
L-norvaline is an isomer from the branched chain amino acid valine. The main function of L-norvaline in the body is to assist with blood flow and the regulation of nitric oxide levels. Although there are the added benefits of synthesizing perindopril (an ACE inhibitor) as well as male enhancement. L-norvaline makes up 300mg of this potent mix.
s7™ has been clinically tested to dramatically increase nitric oxide production within the body. This is accomplished by using seven different plant based sources that trigger your body's internal nitric oxide production. Green coffee bean extract, green tea extract, turmeric extract, tart cherry, blueberry, broccoli, and kale make up this effective blend at 100mg per serving.
Lastly this nitric oxide supplement contains 10mg of Bioperine®, which is a black pepper extract. There are a lot of benefits to supplementing with black pepper extract, but one of the top reasons is that it help increase bioavailability for more effective use of the other nitric oxide boosters in this product.
This nitric oxide pre-workout booster allows for greater endurance, stronger pumps, and vein popping muscles...
The Snap Nitric Oxide Organic Beet Powder is our pick for one of the best natural nitric oxide supplements out there.
Made from powdered beets, you can expect all the benefits that come from this vegetable that is exceptionally high in vitamins as well as nitrates.
Containing vitamin C, vitamin B3, vitamin B12, Sodium, Potassium, Red Spinach extract, and Black Pepper extract.
You may be wondering what red spinach extract is and what the benefit is. Red spinach extract has been shown to be an even higher source of nitrates than beetroot extract or powder, so this really kicks it up a notch. The black pepper extract is to aid in bioavailability, making sure that every ingredient in this nitric oxide supplement gets absorbed quickly and efficiently.
Out of all of the nitric oxide supplements on our list, this one is great to take as a regular supplement and not just a pre-workout.
Snap Nitric Oxide comes in three different flavors: Apple, Cherry Lime, and Mixed Berry and costs $44.50 for a 30 serving container.
Serving of simply the highest super quality non-GMO, organic powdered beets. This beet juice powder is jam-packed with nitrates, and other life-giving micronutrients that help with all things pertaining to cardio health...
Huge Supplements Pump Serum has our top spot for best nitric oxide supplement for vascularity.
Many gym-goers are always chasing that vascular, vein-popping look that so many fitness athletes have. With Pump Serum, that chase just got a little easier.
Made with 980mg of choline, which has been shown to help improve muscle stamina and promote muscle recovery following repetitive motion. The 8,000mg of L-citrulline is a high enough dosage for boosting nitric oxide production into overdrive.
Working along with the L-citrulline is 1,500mg of Nitrosigine® which causes vasodilation and will increase blood flow due to the arginine nitrate piece of the ingredient. The silicon part of Nitrosigine® strengthens arterial wall flexibility.
The 254mg of VasoDrive-AP® also improves arterial flexibility by enhancing the production of eNOS. VasoDrive-AP® has also been shown to support glucose utilization, reduce inflammation, support cognitive function, as well as help with muscle soreness after intense workouts.
Pump Serum also has the one-two punch of L-tyrosine and agmatine sulfate at 1,500mg and 1,250mg respectively, to give that extra focus during your sleeve splitting workout as well as provide improved vasodilation.
Working in concert, the 3,000mg of betaine anhydrous and 3,000mg of GlycerPump™ provide a state of hyperhydration, keeping your muscles full and your veins popping during even the longest of workouts.
2,000mg of beetroot extract promotes vascularity, due to its high content of nitrates which are a precursor to nitric oxide production. More vasodilation, and more pumps will get even more intense with the addition of 20mg of Huperzine A 1%, which increases muscle contractions induced by nerve stimulation.
1000mg of Pomegranate extract adds to your workout ability with studies showing heavier weight being able to be moved, workout duration extended, and the cherry on top, improved recovery after strenuous exercise.
These nitric oxide boosting ingredients wouldn't be complete without 5mg of Bioperine® to enhance the bioavailability of everything else.
Pump Serum comes in three different flavors: Cherry Berry, Island Dream, and Strawberry Mojito.
At $54.95 for 25 servings, this nitric oxide booster does come with a healthy price, but for what is inside, it is definitely worth it. Pump Serum can also be stacked with other Huge Supplements products such as Magnify.
Pump Serum has one of the largest scoop sizes currently on the market. Every serving has a whopping 31 grams of active ingredients. In the creation of this...
Our choice for best nitric oxide supplement for blood pressure comes from BlueEarth.
Their L-arginine + L-citrulline delivers 5,000mg of L-arginine and 2,000mg of L-citrulline in every serving. This ratio is based on a Nobel Prize winning medical research breakthrough by Dr. Louis Ignarro which found it to be blood flow improving and able to release nitric oxide into the body.
Also included in this supplement are vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, magnesium, chromium, and black pepper extract. All of these products work to improve cardiovascular health as well as blood vessel health by giving the immune system and human body the support it needs to function efficiently.
This supplement comes in four different flavors: pineapple, peach lemonade, green apple and berry blend and retails at $35.95, making it the most affordable on our list.
Healthy Blood Pressure Support by releasing Nitric Oxide into the blood vessel wall that can help relax blood vessels to aid in decreasing blood pressure naturally and increasing blood flow into the muscles for a higher performance and pump during exercise...
Nitric oxide is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that's catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase. Converted from nitrate, nitric oxide is involved in a host of physiological functions. From blood pressure regulation to skeletal muscle repair, cardiovascular health, mitochondria production, calcium transport, amongst others, nitric oxide benefits the body in more ways than you would think.
As you can see from the paragraph above, nitric oxide plays a large part in regulating various systems in the body. Most widely recognized as a vasodilator, nitric oxide has been a popular addition to many pre-workout supplements as well as standalone nitric oxide supplements. There's very good reasons why that is.
We'll touch on some of the bigger benefits below.
Nitric oxide supplementation has been found to help boost performance from due to increased, blood flow to the muscle.¹ The vasodilation relaxes the blood vessels and triggers more blood to flow to the muscles. More blood means more available oxygen gets to the muscle.
An added benefit of nitric oxide is that it may decrease the body's demand for oxygen which means you can work out harder, for longer.
Anybody that has spent anytime weight training knows that amazing feeling of your muscle engorged with blood, feeling like your skin is stretched as tight as a drum. It's one of the feelings that almost everyone is trying to achieve when they step foot in a gym, whether it's at home or a commercial facility.
We won't post the quote here, but Arnold Schwarzenegger has a pretty famous take on muscle pumps, and who wouldn't want that feeling every time they lift.
Nitric oxide boosting supplements allow more blood vessel dilation in the body, so if more blood is freely available it is going to make its way to whatever body part is being worked out. More blood equals more size.
Nitric oxide may reduce delayed onset muscle soreness or more commonly called, DOMS by up to 40%. Nitric oxide can increase blood flow and with that blood flow nutrients are brought into the muscles. Between the added nutrient delivery and the removal of excess exercise byproducts, such as lactate and ammonia (which are associated with muscle fatigue), nitric oxide boosters can help negate some of the soreness from an intense workout. ²
Nitric oxide causes the the inner muscles of your blood vessels causing the widening of the vessels, which will increase blood flow and lower blood pressure at the same time. That being said, people with low blood pressure should check with their doctor before starting nitric oxide supplements.
Studies have found that men with mild erectile dysfunction have seen an improvement in hardness when using nitric oxide supplements.³ Some of these studies were done with L-arginine and/or L-citrulline which are converted by the body into nitric oxide. The nitric oxide allows the muscles of the penis to relax, increasing blood flow to the chambers in the penis so it becomes erect.
These ingredients are commonly found in most NO dietary supplements as well as pre-workouts in general. We'll give you a rundown of what each one is and why you might see it on an ingredient label.
L-arginine is an amino acid found commonly high protein foods such as red meat, chicken, fish, legumes, whole grains, soy and other forms of dairy. Naturally produced in the body, this amino acid is a vasodilator, which as covered before, means relaxed blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and increasing blood flow.
L-arginine is used to treat a variety of medical issues, such as angina, high blood pressure, high blood pressure during pregnancy, preeclampsia, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
The recommended dose of L-arginine in a supplement is 3-6g taken before working out. Daily dosage should never exceed 18g, and you should never take more than 10g at one time. Taking too much arginine can result in gastrointestinal issues.
Agmatine sulfate is an often overlooked ingredient when it comes to nitric oxide supplements. Agmatine is a metabolite of the amino acid arginine, but that doesn't mean they do the exact same thing.
While agmatine does lower blood pressure and expand blood vessels, it also does much more than that. Unlike arginine, agmatine increases beta-endorphin release, prevents oxidative stress in neurons, boosts cognitive function, and enhances insulin sensitivity.
Breaking those down a little bit, beta-endorphin release occurs when the body and brain face something difficult, to help lessen pain and increase your mood. We all know how painful a workout can be when you are pushing yourself to the limit, so wouldn't a reduction in that pain let you take your workout to the next level?
Oxidative stress is when your body is imbalanced between free radicals and anti-oxidants. When your body is under oxidative stress, there is a greater likelihood of diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, and other obesity related diseases. Now who wouldn't want an ingredient that wouldn't help keep a stop to all of that?
An increase in cognitive function occurs due to agmatine binding to several receptors in the brain, acting like a neuro-transmitter. This means an increase in focus, decision making, thinking, reasoning, along with many more benefits. There's no scenario where additional brain power is going to be a disadvantage.
The enhanced insulin sensitivity is something that people are striving for all the time. The high insulin sensitivity allows glucose to be taken into your cells at a faster rate, lowering blood sugar and reducing risk of diabetes.
The effective dosage of agmatine sulfate is between 500mg to 1000mg.
Probably one of the other best known amino acids for nitric oxide synthesis. This non-essential amino acid is found mostly in fruits and vegetables and just like arginine is a vasodilator.
L-citrulline and arginine are usually talked about almost interchangeably and that could be due to the fact that they are converted back and forth into each other in the body to produce nitric oxide. When consumed, L-citrulline heads to the kidneys where it is converted to arginine, which then is broken down by an enzyme into nitric oxide and L-citrulline, the citrulline gets sent back to the kidneys and the process repeats itself.
While they may seem to be the exact same thing, studies have found that citrulline actually expands blood vessels more than arginine. This is due to the body using arginine for other functions rather than nitric oxide production, unlike L-citrulline.
L-citrulline is commonly found in pre-workouts called citrulline malate, which is citrulline mixed with malic acid. Malic acid increases bioavailability making absorption of the citrulline more effective. The only trouble with citrulline malate is the fact that you don't know exactly how much of each ingredient you are getting or the manufacturer is trying to advertise high dosages of citrulline where that might not be the case.
The recommended effective dosage is at minimum 2-5g. Higher doses can be taken with no side-effects.
You can learn more about arginine and citrulline in our article: L Arginine vs L Citrulline: Which Supplement Is Better?
Nitrosigine® is a patented designer supplement that is made from bonded arginine silicate. The L-arginine nitrate boosts nitric oxide levels, generating more blood flow and greater vasodilation.
The silicon part of Nitrosigine® helps blood flow by strengthening arterial walls and improving their flexibility. Nitrisigine® increases L-arginine levels in the blood for up to six hours and increases blood silicon levels.
A study at the University of Arkansas confirmed that Nitrosigine® increased vasodilation and showed an increase in blood flow. It was also found that only 1,500mg of Nitrosigine® was as effective as taking 8,000mg of citrulline malate.
Beetroot extract has an exceptionally high level of inorganic nitrates which are converted into nitric oxide in the body. While this is the usual reason you will see beetroot extract in nitric oxide supplements, it can also help with gym performance as well. Beet extract can offer performance improvement in a couple different ways, improving muscle endurance and enhancing muscle contractile function.
A great way to determine which nitric oxide boosters are right for you should come down to a few things.
Knowing what the active ingredients in whatever product you are looking to put in your body should be top priority. Figuring out what will and won't work for your workout regimen, lifestyle, and health is probably the most important decision. If you are sensitive to caffeine, then stim-free nitric oxide supplements may be the way to go.
The ingredients inside are only effective if the dosage is correct. If an ingredient is underdosed, then you won't get the full efficacy of what you are taking and are just throwing money out the window. Some nitric oxide boosters hide behind proprietary blends, so you never know exactly how much of each ingredient you're getting, stay away from those for the most part.
When you are taking nitric oxide supplements, you want to know that what is on the label is what you are actually getting. 3rd party testing assures that the contents match what is on the packaging. Having an independent party do the checking takes out the chance that you aren't getting what you paid for.
Nitric oxide supplements cost about as much as any other workout supplement out there. Whether or not you want to pay a premium is going to depend on a couple things. Are you buying based on brand name, or the contents within?
Nitric oxide supplements in general are safe, but like any supplement you should consult with your physician before starting anything that may interact with current medications. Besides supplements there are many ways to boost your body's nitric oxide production with exercise, nutrition and outdoor activities.
When it comes to supplements, the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline remain top of the class for their reputation of increasing nitric oxide production.
L-arginine is an amino acid that is a precursor to nitric oxide. The body breaks L-arginine down into nitric oxide. Also L-arginine can stimulate the release of insulin and growth hormone in the body.
One great way is to take one of the best nitric oxide boosters we covered above. However, if you are looking to do so through food, you can drink beetroot juice or eat beets, garlic, meat, leafy greens, watermelon, dark chocolate, and nuts just to name a few.
We've given you an extensive rundown of 7 great supplements that will increase nitric oxide levels in your body. There is plenty of scientific evidence demonstrating why increasing nitric oxide levels in your blood can be beneficial to your health in general, and why a nitric oxide booster is extremely popular in the gym.
With the information in this article combined with the products we've suggested, we are sure you will find the perfect nitric oxide supplementation for your lifestyle and budget.
More Best Supplement Roundups:
References
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