Will Nitric Oxide Help ED?

There are a lot of factors affecting male sexual arousal because they are part of a “neurovascular event.” This means that the brain, nerves, blood vessels, and hormones all have to work in sync to produce and maintain a male arousal. 

Here’s how it usually happens: When a male is sexually aroused, his brain sends a signal down to the nerves in the penis. Those nerves then release a chemical called Nitric Oxide (NO). This causes the blood vessels to relax so blood can flow into the male member. As the chambers fill with blood, they trap the blood inside to maintain arousal. When arousal has passed, the vessels tighten back up, blood flows out, and the male member returns to a non-aroused state. 

Erectile dysfunction (ED) happens when something interrupts this process. That could be: 

• Circulation issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes can damage your blood vessels, making them more resistant to relaxation. That makes it harder for blood to flow into the male member. 
• Nerve problems from conditions like diabetes can block signals that ordinarily increase NO levels. 
• Hormone imbalances, specifically low testosterone, can reduce desire and weaken erections. 
• Stress, anxiety, or depression can change your neurological responses. 
• Medications, smoking, or heavy alcohol use can interfere with blood flow or nerve function. 

What we can take away from this is the underlying thread of poor blood flow. That’s why taking action to support heart health and blood flow is the most helpful thing you can do if you’re experiencing ED. 

Will Nitric Oxide Help ED?

Nitric oxide allows your blood vessels to relax, and a lack of it makes it more difficult to get blood into the penis. That’s why many causes of ED, like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, or even just advanced age, are linked to lower nitric oxide levels. If the body isn’t making enough, or if the blood vessels fail to respond to it, the whole cardiovascular system struggles. 

Boosting nitric oxide production promotes blood flow, helps restore elasticity to hardened blood vessels, and helps trap blood in the penis to maintain an erection. Medications like Viagra and Cialis work similarly: helping the nitric oxide signals last longer in the body. 

How Can I Boost Nitric Oxide Production?

Nitric oxide production is closely tied to cardiovascular health, so leading a healthier lifestyle is step one. That means cutting back on unhealthy habits like smoking or binge drinking, and swapping them for activities that support circulation, like strength training, walking, or some other form of regular movement. 

Eating for heart health also means eating for sexual health. Part of the reason your blood vessels aren’t as flexible as you age is because cholesterol accumulates in your vessels and hardens. That reduced circulation raises blood pressure and directly affects the ability to achieve and maintain an erection. 

To reduce your cholesterol, avoid highly processed or greasy foods, instead focusing on lean proteins, green veggies, fiber-filled foods, and healthy fats.

Supplements to Boost Nitric Oxide Production

There are ways to naturally boost your nitric oxide production by providing the raw materials needed for nitric oxide production, supporting cardiovascular health, or reducing oxidative damage to your cells. 

One of the best supported solutions to ED is taking the amino acids the body needs to create more NO, like L-Arginine, which has shown promising results in ED studies. 

• If you want a straightforward, high-dose L-Arginine supplement, Designs for Health’s L-Arginine is a great choice. 
• If you prefer a lower dose, Source Naturals has L-Arginine 500mg Tablets that contain a low dose of calcium, which affects muscle contraction, nerve signalling, and may trigger NO production. 

Studies also show that combining L-Arginine with the amino acid L-Citrulline may work even better. L-Citrulline raises blood levels of L-Arginine more because it doesn’t need to be broken down in the gut or liver to enter the bloodstream. 

• Source Naturals makes a supplement that combines both of these amino acids with additional B vitamins. B vitamins help turn l-arginine more reliably into nitric oxide. A supplement that contains both ingredients is the L-Arginine L-Citrulline Complex. 

Amino acids do a lot, including building proteins like collagen, which is a structural component of your blood vessels. Collagen is what keeps them healthy and elastic, so vessels respond better to nitric oxide signals and allow smoother blood flow. 

• If you want a supplement that contains the amino acids that support collagen production, Nitro Benefits by DaVinci Labs provides ample amino acids to support both nitric oxide production and blood vessel elasticity. 
• If you want to combine your ED supplementation with strength training (which helps too!) You can use a preworkout formula like the one made by Fenix Nutrition. Their Drive Endurance Preworkout contains all those amino acids, plus ingredients that help boost your workout. 

Your cardiovascular health is also affected by inflammation. Buildup of oxidative stress can cause damage to the heart and vessels, so using ingredients that fight free radicals is another avenue. 

• CircuCore by Nutritional Frontiers combines amino acids, B vitamins, and inflammation-fighting ingredients like hawthorne root for a multifaceted approach. 
• Tesseract Medical Research has a supplement, NOX Flo SR, that combines 3 powerful antioxidants: rutinosides, CoQ10, and R-lipoic acid, with the amino acid L-citrulline. 

Conclusion

While ED is complex, much of it comes down to blood flow, and nitric oxide is its central player. If you’re experiencing ED, boosting nitric oxide production is one of the most direct ways to support better circulation, healthier blood vessels, and stronger erections. With lifestyle changes, nutrition, and targeted supplementation, you can help both your heart and your sexual health. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is nitric oxide good for ED?

Yes, nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow to the penis. 

How to naturally treat erectile dysfunction?

Exercising, eating a heart-healthy diet, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and improving sleep can naturally support erectile function.

What do nitric oxide supplements do?

Nitric oxide supplements provide the raw materials your body needs to produce more NO, helping improve circulation and sexual performance.