Oxystorm® is an extract of Amaranth, one of the highest dietary sources of nitrates. Amaranthus is a widely distributed herbaceous genus of herbs comprising approximately 70 species—an underutilised plant with significant nutrititional value, recognised by the US National Academy of Science.
Results from a clinical study published in the September 2016 European Journal of Applied Physiology confirm dietary supplementation of nitrate from OxyStorm generates a significant boost in plasma nitrate, ultimately increasing nitric oxide, and leading to reduced resting blood pressure, and improved blood circulation. These effects help reduce fatigue during sports activity. There are several clinical studies in progress, targeting OxyStorm’s multiple cardiac health benefits and sports-centric nutrition.
The energy requirements of vigorous exercise are largely met by the oxidation of carbohydrate and fat with only a small contribution from the breakdown of protein. The higher the intensity of exercise, the greater the total energy demand and the greater the reliance on carbohydrate as a fuel. If carbohydrate is not available, or is available in only a limited amount, the intensity of the exercise must be reduced to a level where the greater part of the energy requirement can be met by fat oxidation. If carbohydrate is not available, the ability to train at high intensities is reduced and recovery after training is slowed. If the carbohydrate is available and enough oxygen is not available, the same effect is observed as that of less carbohydrate availability. Under such conditions, nitrate supplements can be of great help.
In exercising human subjects, oxygen consumption is decreased after ingesting a nitrate load which increases plasma nitrite concentration, compared to control subjects. This decrease in oxygen consumption did not affect the maximal attainable work load in these subjects. Taken together, this data suggests nitrite increases the efficiency of the exercising muscle.
A sports nutrition product with a natural source of nitrate enhances VO2 max or oxygen uptake. Inorganic nitrates act directly on arterial and vascular smooth muscle to produce arterial and venous vasodilation. By reducing preload and afterload, nitrates restore the balance between O2 supply and demand. Supplements with Oxystorm delay the onset of depletion of the glycogen stores in the exercising muscles and the liver—when muscle glycogen availability is reduced, high-intensity exercise is not possible.
The physiological role of NO and nitrite dependent inhibition of respiration is explained by the fact that NO dependent inhibition of respiration regulates tissue oxygen gradients during physiological hypoxia. During hypoxia, NO can decrease mitochondrial oxygen consumption and this decrease in respiration conserves existing oxygen. Nitrite serves as the major mechanism of NO generation during physiological hypoxia. Thus, under hypoxic conditions, NO decreases oxygen utilisation without decreasing ATP generation. Nitrite appears to mediate this phenomenon in vivo.
Several minerals play important roles in regulating cellular metabolism, and an adequate intake—sufficient to meet the losses from the body—is essential for maintenance of health. Minerals are also lost in sweat, giving rise to the idea that mineral supplementation may be necessary when sweat losses are high. This also suggests an argument for the addition of these components to drinks intended for consumption during or after exercise.
