Do L-Arginine Supplements (Nitric Oxide) Work?

Last fall, I started a series on erogenic aids after being a guest on ESPN The Ticket radio show.

The big question is how do you define “cheating” vs. “performance enhancement”?

I define “performance enhancement” if it’s BOTH safe and legal.

If it’s illegal, then it’s called “cheating”.

If it’s not safe, well, what can I say?  It’s your choice, and see your doctor psychiatrist first!

The Top 4 Supplements

This was the short list of legal supplements you can take on race day to improve your 400 meter times.

1. Stimulants:  coffee & caffeine
2. Nootropics:  Redbull, 5 Hour shots and Vitalyze
3. Lactic Acid buffers:  Beta Alanine and baking soda
4. Nitric Oxide:  L-Arginine, Viagra and vasodilators

Recent research as shown otherwise on the last item, nitric oxide.

In the paper Acute l-arginine supplementation increases muscle blood volume but not strength performance, the abstract reported:

We found that acute L-arg supplementation increases Mbv during recovery from sets of resistance exercise with no increase in strength performance.

It is still premature to recommend nutritional supplements containing L-arg as an ergogenic aid to increase muscle strength during resistance training in healthy subjects.

Funnily enough, supplements in the Nitric Oxide and Lactic Acid Buffers group are on the upper end of the price tags!

The conclusion?

Do your research, and ask lots of questions.

If you want to try it, always try it on a time trial or training run.  Never try a new supplement on race day!  (You’d be amazed how many people still try it)