Nitric Oxide supplementation

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Anti-Hero

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Nitric Oxide supplementation has been touted in the bodybuilding / fitness circles for some time now. It's supposed to be a vasodilator and increase blood flow.

Is it likely that increased blood flow (assuming the supplement works) would aid in perfusion and off gassing? I've heard rumors of Aspirin being taken to stop platelet aggregation and "blood thinning" to assist off gassing, wouldn't this be similar?
 
Hi Anti-Hero,

The mechanisms whereby nitric oxide and acetylsalicylic acid are posited to reduce the risk of DCS are entirely different.

And, I am aware of no published research supporting the notion that aspirin decreases DCI risk.

While the following recent journal article focuses on the treatment rather than prevention, it does suggest that aspirin isn't of much value:

1: Therapie. 2008 Nov-Dec;63(6):419-23.
[Aspirin in decompression sickness.][Article in French]

Bessereau J, Coulange M, Genotelle N, BarthñÍñÎy A, Michelet P, Bruguerolle B, Annane D, Auffray JP.

P?e RUSH, Assistance Publique des H?itaux de Marseille, Marseille, France.

Objective. We have performed a survey on the use of aspirin in decompression sickness (DCS) treatment in French hyperbaric centers'. We also conducted a review of literature to determine if aspirin was beneficial to treat human victims of DCS.Methods. Prospective observational study investigating French hyperbaric centers' prescription of aspirin to DCS' divers victims. The question we asked by mail or phone to French hyperbaric centers was: Do you give some aspirin to a diver with DCS if this treatment has not been given yet (on the site of accident).Results. A large majority of French hyperbaric centers (77.5%) consider aspirin in DCS treatment. However this practice is not consensual. There is no evidence from the literature to support the efficiency of aspirin in DCS. Conclusions. Although aspirin is widely used for DCS treatment in France, more research is needed to determine if aspirin is useful."

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
 
Its worth noting that nitric oxide has been shown to reduce the seizure threshold from oxygen toxicity.

Demchenko, IT; Piantadosi, CA. Nitric oxide amplifies the excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmitter imbalance accelerating oxygen seizures. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2006 May-Jun;33(3):169-74. RRR ID: 5056

Similar work by the same team here at Duke has also shown phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis), have a similar action.

Demchenko, IT; Ruehle, A; Allen, BW; Vann, RD; Piantadosi, CA. EFFECTS OF PHOSPHODIESTERASE-5 INHIBITORS ON CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND SEIZURES IN RATS EXPOSED TO HBO2. (Abstract) Undersea Hyperb Med. 2008 July-Aug;35(4) RRR ID: 7893
 
awesome, thanks for the responses. It was just a curious question based on an (incorrect) assumption. The suggestion that it reduces the tolerances to O2 toxicity is a deal breaker.
 

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