Low Nitric Oxide Symptoms: What Causes Nitric Oxide Deficiency
Symptoms of low nitric oxide include depression, fatigue, and poor vision. Discover what causes NO deficiency, and what to do to increase nitric oxide levels.
Hands on, practical experience – this is our expertise
Our bodies naturally produce the signaling compound nitric oxide (NO). But, as we age, nitric oxide production drops, and it may require a little replenishing.
When we experience a deficiency in nitric oxide, it affects our overall physical and mental health. The symptoms can include high blood pressure, changes in vision, depression, and memory loss.
Quick FAQs
Symptoms of low nitric oxide include depression, fatigue, memory loss, and erectile dysfunction.
Some common causes of nitric oxide deficiency include aging, living a sedentary lifestyle, and taking certain medications such as antibiotics.
A nitric oxide deficiency can be treated through regular exercise, managing stress, or taking a nitric oxide supplement.
Let's look at all the causes of nitric oxide deficiency and natural ways to refill the NO tank.
Nitric oxide is a gas that's synthesized from L-arginine by enzymes known as nitric oxide synthases (NOS). The family of NOS includes endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS), and inducible (iNOS), which all play different roles in our bodies.
Vasodilator: NO relaxes the smooth muscles in blood vessels, which helps the vessels widen to increase blood flow and lower blood pressure.
Regulates blood pressure: Because nitric oxide promotes vasodilation, it regulates blood pressure and maintains healthy circulation.
Boosts immunity response: NO has antimicrobial and antiviral properties that fight off pathogens and keep us from getting sick.
Neurotransmission: Nitric oxide helps our brain cells better communicate with one another.
Doctors can't always pinpoint what causes low nitric oxide in the body.
But, research does show that aging is the most common factor for a decrease in nitric oxide levels.
As we get older, our bodies have a reduced capacity to produce NO via the L-arginine pathway or a deficiency of L-arginine.
When nitric oxide production decreases, it can contribute to cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration disorders.
But a drop in NO may happen regardless of how old you are. Many times, the decrease is attributed to a low-nitrate diet.
A sedentary lifestyle can increase the odds of developing a nitric oxide deficiency. Research shows that introducing exercise can increase the body's nitric oxide production.
In rare cases, a drop in NO can be due to Mitochondrial disease, which are genetic conditions that affect how the body converts food and oxygen into energy.
Some medications can lower nitric oxide levels, including:
Additionally, using bacteria-killing mouthwash and over brushing your tongue can destroy beneficial bacteria needed for the NO synthesis process.
Low Nitric Oxide Symptoms
Erectile dysfunction (ED): Nitric oxide is essential to getting and maintaining an erection. It relaxes the smooth muscle in the penis to allow it to fill with blood so you can get and maintain an erection.
Depression and chronic stress: Nitric oxide plays a major role in modulating the body's neurotransmitter systems, and when there's a deficiency, it can affect mood and lead to depression and other psychological disorders.
Fatigue: Low levels of NO can lead to reduced blood flow and oxygen flow. It may also decrease stamina and affect athletic ability.
Memory loss: Low nitric oxide levels can cause decreased brain function, leading to poor memory, concentration, and cognitive decline.
High blood pressure: Studies show a correlation between high blood pressure and nitric oxide deficiency. As a vasodilator, you can lower blood pressure and increase blood flow by supplementing nitric oxide levels.
Weakened immune system: Nitric oxide is required for a properly working immune system. Low levels make you more susceptible to disease.
Atherosclerosis: Plaque can develop on the interior walls of blood vessels, which decreases blood flow. Our bodies require nitric oxide to prevent vascular calcification.
Slower wound healing: NO promotes blood flow and immune response. Low nitric oxide can increase the odds of more frequent illnesses and a longer recovery time.
If you notice signs of low nitric oxide, contact a medical professional to discuss possible treatment and supplementation.
Health problems caused by Nitric Oxide Deficiency
Heart disease: When the body can't produce enough nitric oxide, it can cause blood vessel constriction, plaque build-up, and chronic inflation.
Diabetes: Someone with a NO deficiency is at risk for type 2 diabetes because it can impair insulin sensitivity. Low nitric oxide can also worsen complications due to diabetes.
Neurological disorders: Supplementing NO may help slow the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Osteoporosis: Nitric oxide efficiency can increase the chances of fractures and osteoporosis.
If you suspect you’re struggling with nitric oxide deficiency, contact a medical professional as soon as you can. The sooner you catch it, the better you can address low NO levels.
Long-term nitric oxide deficiency
Kidney disease: Research shows that pretreating low nitric oxide levels can prevent renal failure.
Stroke: Studies indicate that there is a correlation between levels of nitric oxide and strokes.
Nerve pain: Neuropathy is connected to low levels of NO and plays a major role in nerve function and disease.
While we can’t do much about aging, we can take steps toward preventing nitric oxide deficiency.
Nitrate-rich diet: Spinach, citrus fruit, and garlic are three good options to start off a nitrate-rich diet and increase NO levels.
Regular exercise: Jogging, swimming, and cycling can help stimulate nitric oxide production and support overall wellness.
Manage stress: Meditation, yoga, and therapy may help improve your nitric oxide levels.
Maintain a healthy weight: With a balanced diet and regular exercise, you can achieve a healthy weight, which helps regulate NO production.
Supplements: Supplements that contain L-arginine or L-citrulline, such as Vitaflux, can assist in increasing the production of nitric oxide. It may be helpful for people who struggle with NO deficiency or can't eat enough nitrate-rich food.
Stop smoking cigarettes: Smoking has the potential to cause blood vessel damage and impair the production of NO.
Improved sexual health: Upping NO levels increases blood flow, desire, and arousal in men and women. Supplementing nitric oxide can address erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation and increase lubrication in women.
Cardiovascular health: Research shows that better NO levels improve blood flow and widen blood vessels.
Improved exercise capacity: Some athletes supplement NO due to its physical performance benefits, including stamina and endurance.
Wound healing qualities: Studies show that nitric oxide helps the body with inflammatory response, cell proliferation, and collagen formation and is an antimicrobial.
Boosts reproduction: For females, nitric oxide levels play a role in ovulation, fertilization, and implementation. Some women supplement NO during pregnancy and to regulate delivery. Nitric oxide improves sperm maturation in men.
Other benefits of improving nitric oxide levels include:
Increased energy
Less muscle soreness
Improved cognitive function
Healthier pregnancy
Improved respiratory response
Takeaways
As we age, our NO levels begin to decrease. A poor diet, lack of exercise, some genetic disorders, medication, and cigarette smoking can also cause NO deficiency.
Low levels of NO come with warning signs that include sexual dysfunction, depression, stress, tiredness, memory loss, and poor vision.
Nitric oxide deficiency can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, neurological problems, and osteoporosis. Chat with your physician if you notice any symptoms of low NO.
You can increase nitric oxide with lifestyle changes such as eating nitrate-rich food, introducing exercise to your daily routine, managing stress levels, and stopping smoking.
Over-the-counter supplements, like VitaFLUX Nitric Oxide Booster, are available that contain L-arginine or L-citrulline, which can address nitric oxide deficiency.
Supplementing NO has all kinds of benefits, like lower blood pressure, better sexual health and stamina, and more.
Talk to your doctor about low nitric oxide treatment if you notice symptoms of low nitric oxide.
Our team has over a decade of experience in the sexual wellness field and are experts in sexual dysfunctions, like premature ejaculation. We help couples and individuals better understand treatment options available for different types of sexual needs and educate the public on all things related to intimacy. All of our authored content is medically reviewed for accuracy and reliability.
Sources:
Absorption Pharmaceuticals LLC (Promescent) has strict informational citing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic or research institutions, medical associations, and medical experts. We attempt to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references and only citing trustworthy sources. Each article is reviewed, written, and updated by Medical Professionals or authoritative Experts in a specific, related field of practice. You can find out more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Félétou M. The Endothelium: Part 1: Multiple Functions of the Endothelial Cells—Focus on Endothelium-Derived Vasoactive Mediators. San Rafael (CA): Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences; 2011. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK57149/. Accessed on Sep, 20, 2023.
Chen K, Pittman RN, Popel AS. Nitric oxide in the vasculature: where does it come from and where does it go? A quantitative perspective. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2008;10(7):1185-1198. doi:10.1089/ars.2007.1959. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Ahmad A, Dempsey SK, Daneva Z, et al. Role of Nitric Oxide in the Cardiovascular and Renal Systems. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(9):2605. Published 2018 Sep 3. doi:10.3390/ijms19092605. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Tripathi P. Nitric oxide and immune response. Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2007 Oct;44(5):310-9. PMID: 18341206. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Picón-Pagès P, Garcia-Buendia J, Muñoz FJ. Functions and dysfunctions of nitric oxide in brain. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019 Aug 1;1865(8):1949-1967. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.11.007. Epub 2018 Nov 27. PMID: 30500433. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Esplugues JV. NO as a signalling molecule in the nervous system. Br J Pharmacol. 2002;135(5):1079-1095. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704569. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Sverdlov AL, Ngo DT, Chan WP, Chirkov YY, Horowitz JD. Aging of the nitric oxide system: are we as old as our NO?. J Am Heart Assoc. 2014;3(4):e000973. Published 2014 Aug 18. doi:10.1161/JAHA.114.000973. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Dyakova EY, Kapilevich LV, Shylko VG, Popov SV, Anfinogenova Y. Physical exercise associated with NO production: signaling pathways and significance in health and disease. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2015;3:19. Published 2015 Apr 2. doi:10.3389/fcell.2015.00019. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Sukhovershin RA, Cooke JP. How May Proton Pump Inhibitors Impair Cardiovascular Health?. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2016;16(3):153-161. doi:10.1007/s40256-016-0160-9. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Sohail R, Mathew M, Patel KK, et al. Effects of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Gastroprotective NSAIDs on the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2023;15(4):e37080. Published 2023 Apr 3. doi:10.7759/cureus.37080. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Chełchowska M, Ambroszkiewicz J, Gajewska J, et al. Influence of Active Exposure to Tobacco Smoke on Nitric Oxide Status of Pregnant Women. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(12):2719. Published 2018 Dec 3. doi:10.3390/ijerph15122719. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Bryan NS, Tribble G, Angelov N. Oral Microbiome and Nitric Oxide: the Missing Link in the Management of Blood Pressure. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2017 Apr;19(4):33. doi: 10.1007/s11906-017-0725-2. PMID: 28353075. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Burnett AL. The role of nitric oxide in erectile dysfunction: implications for medical therapy. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2006;8(12 Suppl 4):53-62. doi:10.1111/j.1524-6175.2006.06026.x. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Dhir A, Kulkarni SK. Nitric oxide and major depression. Nitric Oxide. 2011 Apr 30;24(3):125-31. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2011.02.002. Epub 2011 Feb 16. PMID: 21335097. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Paul V, Ekambaram P. Involvement of nitric oxide in learning & memory processes. Indian J Med Res. 2011 May;133(5):471-8. PMID: 21623030; PMCID: PMC3121276. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Hermann M, Flammer A, Lüscher TF. Nitric oxide in hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2006 Dec;8(12 Suppl 4):17-29. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2006.06032.x. PMID: 17170603; PMCID: PMC8109558. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Becquet F, Courtois Y, Goureau O. Nitric oxide in the eye: multifaceted roles and diverse outcomes. Surv Ophthalmol. 1997 Jul-Aug;42(1):71-82. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6257(97)84043-x. PMID: 9265703. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Kanno Y, Into T, Lowenstein CJ, Matsushita K. Nitric oxide regulates vascular calcification by interfering with TGF- signalling. Cardiovasc Res. 2008 Jan;77(1):221-30. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvm049. Epub 2007 Oct 25. PMID: 18006450. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Lee J. Nitric oxide in the kidney : its physiological role and pathophysiological implications. Electrolyte Blood Press. 2008;6(1):27-34. doi:10.5049/EBP.2008.6.1.27. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Chen ZQ, Mou RT, Feng DX, Wang Z, Chen G. The role of nitric oxide in stroke. Med Gas Res. 2017;7(3):194-203. Published 2017 Oct 17. doi:10.4103/2045-9912.215750. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Zochodne DW, Levy D. Nitric oxide in damage, disease and repair of the peripheral nervous system. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2005 Sep 5;51(3):255-67. PMID: 16191393. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Kobayashi J, Ohtake K, Uchida H. NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases. Nutrients. 2015;7(6):4911-4937. Published 2015 Jun 17. doi:10.3390/nu7064911. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Dyakova EY, Kapilevich LV, Shylko VG, Popov SV, Anfinogenova Y. Physical exercise associated with NO production: signaling pathways and significance in health and disease. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2015;3:19. Published 2015 Apr 2. doi:10.3389/fcell.2015.00019. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
McRae MP. Therapeutic Benefits of l-Arginine: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses. J Chiropr Med. 2016;15(3):184-189. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2016.06.002. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Theodorou AA, Zinelis PT, Malliou VJ, et al. Acute L-Citrulline Supplementation Increases Nitric Oxide Bioavailability but Not Inspiratory Muscle Oxygenation and Respiratory Performance. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3311. Published 2021 Sep 22. doi:10.3390/nu13103311. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Biswas OS, Gonzalez VR, Schwarz ER. Effects of an oral nitric oxide supplement on functional capacity and blood pressure in adults with prehypertension. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Jan;20(1):52-8. doi: 10.1177/1074248414539563. Epub 2014 Jun 18. PMID: 24942311. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Burnett AL. The role of nitric oxide in erectile dysfunction: implications for medical therapy. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2006;8(12 Suppl 4):53-62. doi:10.1111/j.1524-6175.2006.06026.x. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Naseem KM. The role of nitric oxide in cardiovascular diseases. Mol Aspects Med. 2005 Feb-Apr;26(1-2):33-65. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2004.09.003. Epub 2005 Jan 24. PMID: 15722114. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Tsukiyama Y, Ito T, Nagaoka K, Eguchi E, Ogino K. Effects of exercise training on nitric oxide, blood pressure and antioxidant enzymes. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2017;60(3):180-186. doi:10.3164/jcbn.16-108. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Malone-Povolny MJ, Maloney SE, Schoenfisch MH. Nitric Oxide Therapy for Diabetic Wound Healing. Adv Healthc Mater. 2019;8(12):e1801210. doi:10.1002/adhm.201801210. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
Luo Y, Zhu Y, Basang W, Wang X, Li C, Zhou X. Roles of Nitric Oxide in the Regulation of Reproduction: A Review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:752410. Published 2021 Nov 19. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.752410. Accessed on Sep 20, 2023.
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
