Ray Peat: Nitric Oxide Is Dangerous
In the realm of modern medicine, nitric oxide (NO) has often been portrayed as a beneficial compound, especially in cardiovascular health. However, the perspective of Ray Peat, a renowned researcher and biochemist, presents a compelling counter-narrative. According to Peat, nitric oxide is far from benign; it is a dangerous compound with various detrimental health effects.
Early Research and Misinterpretations
The initial research into nitric oxide’s functions revealed its role in the malfunction or death of stressed cells in vital organs like the pancreas, brain, and lung. This led to the exploration of substances that could inhibit nitric oxide to protect tissues from stress-induced damage. However, the medical community’s interpretation of nitric oxide underwent a significant shift. For instance, in the 1990s, nitric oxide’s rapid increase in the uterus due to estrogen was linked to water absorption and weight increase. Consequently, its association with estrogen, considered heart-protective, elevated nitric oxide’s status in the medical economy.
The Rise of Nitric Oxide in Medical Practice
The popularity of nitric oxide in medical treatment grew, with its use becoming common in addressing conditions like newborn pulmonary hypertension. This was based on the rationale that nitric oxide, by dilating constricted arteries, would improve blood oxygenation. This phase in medical practice also saw an increase in research proposing new methods to deliver nitric oxide to patients, as well as a variety of products intended to enhance the body’s synthesis of it. Some of these products were even promoted by university-affiliated medical professionals.
The Dark Side of Nitric Oxide
Peat highlights the more ominous aspects of nitric oxide. It acts as a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, similar to toxins like endotoxin and rotenone. In situations where there’s an excess of excitation relative to energy production, nitric oxide can become the central agent of excitotoxicity, leading to cellular damage. Conditions like hypoglycemia, which activate the excitatory glutamatergic system, result in increased nitric oxide and subsequent excitotoxicity. Beyond this, nitric oxide contributes to inflammation, DNA damage, and oxidative and nitrative damage to cellular components.
Nitric Oxide and Aging
Peat draws attention to the role of nitric oxide in aging, particularly brain aging. As a free radical, nitric oxide decomposes into other toxic compounds, such as peroxynitrite, which damages cells, blood vessels, and the heart. Interestingly, nitric oxide’s interaction with unsaturated fats leads to reduced oxygen use, mitochondrial damage, and edema. Peat suggests that nitric oxide production, influenced by estrogen, should theoretically provide greater cardiovascular protection in men, given their higher production levels. However, this is not the case, indicating a flaw in the conventional understanding of nitric oxide’s protective role in heart health.
The Scientific Debate and Concluding Thoughts
In response to these harmful effects, numerous experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the damage caused by increasing nitric oxide levels and the protective effects of blocking its formation or actions. This research is gradually changing the narrative around nitric oxide, challenging its perceived benefits in medical treatments.
Ray Peat’s insights into nitric oxide paint a picture starkly different from mainstream medical opinion. His research and observations suggest that nitric oxide, rather than being a panacea, might be a contributor to various health problems, signaling a need for a reevaluation of its role in medical treatments and health supplements.