Healthy Vascular Endothelial Cells - Boosting Nitric Oxide Naturally with Arginine

The healthy function of your vascular endothelial cells is crucial to your overall cardiovascular health .

It was previously thought this single layer of cells that lines the lumen of blood vessels was merely a physical barrier between blood and the underlying tissue. However, about 20 years ago researchers began to understand that the vascular endothelium acts not only as a barrier, but also as a vital regulator of blood vessel activity, with far-reaching implications.

At that time it was discovered that an endothelium-derived substance could stimulate the underlying smooth muscle to relax, thus causing vasodilation. The substance was dubbed endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF).

Subsequently, Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro, and Ferid Murad determined the identity of EDRF as nitric oxide (NO), and were honored in 1998 with the Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine. This discovery has resulted in thousands of papers being published on the subject of nitric oxide and endothelial function.

Nitric Oxide, a simple gaseous compound consisting of one molecule of nitrogen and one molecule of oxygen, is a potent regulator of vascular function. Nitric Oxide is produced in vascular endothelial cells in response to a number of stimuli, including sheer stress and acetylcholine.

Nitric Oxide diffuses into the underlying vascular smooth muscle and acts as a messenger molecule, activating guanylate cyclase, which elevates the concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which in turn causes relaxation of smooth muscle and vasodilation... which is a good thing.

In addition to its role in the regulation of vascular tone, Nitric Oxide has other significant vascular benefits. Nitric Oxide decreases platelet aggregation and adhesiveness, reduces monocyte adhesiveness and inflammatory cytokine release, and inhibits smooth muscle proliferation.

There is also evidence that adequate NO inhibits LDL oxidation. These events are at the genesis of the atherosclerotic process and, without adequate nitric oxide, occur unabated. Loss of sufficient endothelial NO production appears early in the development of atherosclerosis, evidenced by impaired acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Impaired Nitric Oxide synthesis, the ability to NOT produce adequate Nitric Oxide is a component of a number of cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, peripheral vascular disease, hyperhomocysteinemia, congestive heart failure, erectile dysfunction and cerebrovascular events. Poor Nitric Oxide production in vascular endothelial cells is also seen post balloon angioplasty.

Nitric oxide is produced in vascular endothelial cells from a single natural substrate--the amino acid L-arginine. L-arginine is considered a non-essential amino acid because, in addition to being present in dietary proteins, it can be produced in the body from another amino acid, L-citrulline, in an ATP-dependent process. However, adequate dietary or supplemental L-arginine appears to be the key to sufficient NO production.

So why Not take an amino acid that stimulates the production of Nitric Oxide? I am a not a doctor, I am a researcher, I encourage you to Study, Learn and decide if you need to take an Arginine Supplement to Increase your Nitric Oxide Levels.

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