(Was) Nitric Oxide...(now) Benicar raises antioxidants?

[Guest guest]

> > I am confused about Nitric Oxide...........is this supposed to be

a

> > good thing or a bad thing?

> > Some people are trying to lower levels and I hear others

saying it

> > is a good thing.

>

> Don't feel bad about being confused, because the topic has

confused

> medical researchers themselves. For a good recap on what's

presently

> known about nitric oxide, see:

>

>

http://www.jpp.krakow.pl/journal/archive/1203/pdf/469_1203_arti

cle.pdf

>

> Nitric oxide (NO) can be both inflammatory and

anti-inflammatory.

> Thus, it can be both good and bad. It depends on the state of

the

> body. For example, nitric oxide is formed using the co-factor

> Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). If your body has high oxidant levels,

BH4

> levels are reduced, and instead of generating NO, the process

creates

> superoxide radicals, which leads to inflammation. In order to

> counteract this, you can take antioxidants.

>

> But in some cases, reducing the rate of nitric oxide production,

may

> also be needed. This is especially true if nitric oxide is being

> produced by iNOS. iNOS is the process in the immune system

that

> creates nitric oxide. The immune system creates nitric oxide,

because

> it is part of the immune system's defense against parasites. In

that

> case, NO is good. However, iNOS can create excess nitric

oxide.

> This can occur, due to the fact that unlike other NO generating

> processes, iNOS generates NO for a prolonged period of time.

>

> Many supplements can help reduce iNOS. Some antioxidants,

like

> quercetin, can supposedly decrease iNOS. Interestingly,

tetracycline

> antibiotics, such as minocycline, can also reduce iNOS. And in

> certain conditions, Benicar can significantly improve

antioxidant

> levels. But I'll stop talking at this point, as you can probably

see

> already where I'm going with this.

>

> Mark