This is really graduate level stuff but from what I'm as to understand is no can oxidize cells casuarina damage and death? Also seems to mix with free radicals in the body leading to complications? I'm i reading this right?
generally yes. NO is not the problem itself as is it is a free radical with modest negative effects, but it combines with another free radical superoxide to create a powerful oxidant in the form of peroxynitrite.
While the body does need some radicals in the body, generally you dont want to be boosting the amount of free radicals and you definitely don't want to be boosting oxidants, especially very harmful ones.
NO has positive effects at health levels, by keeping blood vessels dilated and smooth so things like arterial plaques (cholesterol) do not form. But the more is better mentality does not apply.
Fr example there was a studies where they prescribed arginine for people with heart disease and endothelial dysfunction (blood vessel lining does not work well, plaques, cholesterol, inflammation etc), as it was believed that by boosting NO, the NO would reverse the damage, initially the arginine helped due to the increased NO, however long term the patients suffered other issues and their endothelial function was still poor, possibly due to long term elevated peroxynitrite.
Supplement companies are selective in telling you what people want to hear and forgetting about the downsides. Beta-Alanine is another supplement with potentially Neurotoxic effects.
