Coenzyme Q10

AP - Here's a couch potato's dream: What if a drug could help you gain some of the benefits of exercise without working up a sweat? Scientists reported Thursday that there is such a drug - if you happen to be a mouse.

Nitric Oxide (NO) booster supplements have quickly become the hottest selling products on the market. With more and more concern over the long term use and side effects of pro hormones and steroid precursors (not to mention their tenuous legal status), many bodybuilders are looking for alternatives.

In 1998, Doctors Robert F Furchgott, Louis J Ignarro and Ferid Murad won the Nobel Prize for Science when their research proved that Nitric Oxide was "a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system". Their research proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that elevated levels of NO played a role in numerous bodily functions. Dr Ignarro has even been quoted "Nitric Oxide deficiency can contribute to nearly every major disease of our times". Two of the benefits of NO in the body are the relaxation and dilation (enlargement) of blood vessels and also tissue repair.

Nitric Oxide is produced in the body by the amino acid L-Arginine. The problem however is that the average person only gets enough L-Arginine in their daily diet to cover the basic bodily functions. This is where NO boosters have become popular. These products are based on L-Arginine in the form of Alpha Ketogluterate. This form of L-Arginine is more bio-available so it is utilized more efficiently in the body.

BSN, a leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements developed their product "Nitrix" primarily for the bodybuilding community. After the Nobel Prize winning research, that clearly proved the effects of elevated NO levels, BSN realized that this blood vessel dilation effect could have numerous benefits. The first thing Nitrix users will notice after a week or two is better "pumps" and increased vascularity when working out. "The Pump" is when a muscle that is being worked through heavy weight training becomes engorged with blood and gets bigger and harder. Additionally, Nitrix increases vascularity. Bodybuilders love seeing forearms and biceps that have huge, clearly defined veins bulging.

One of the other benefits that users report with Nitrix is better recovery from their training. Since blood vessels are bigger, nutrients and blood flow are shuttled throughout the body more readily

So are there any downsides to Nitrix? Well, side effects that have been reported are few but some people who take more than the recommended dose of Nitrix have reported stomach upset. It is important to take the dose suggested.

While it's not necessarily a side effect, another downside to Nitrix is the size of the tablets. They are rather large and since you need to take 3 at a time, it can be bothersome to some people.

Mike Berg has been involved in bodybuilding and fitness as an enthusiast and trainer for over 20 years.
For more information on Nitrix, visit his website for bodybuilding and fitness articles and Bodybuilding Supplements at http://www.milleniumfitness.com