A new clinical study has suggested that dietary supplementation of nitrate from a natural extract of the amaranthus species, red spinach, results in a boost of energy.
Supplementation, it found, significantly increases plasma nitrite that ultimately enhances nitric oxide. The related physiological effects of nitric oxide enhancement include a lower resting blood pressure, better blood circulation and enhanced exercise tolerance, helping boost performance during exercise or other physical activity.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover-designed clinical study was conducted by researchers from Alabama and published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology.
Benny Antony, joint managing director of Arjuna Natural Extracts, which manufactures the OxyStorm brand of amaranthus extract, said: “Athletes and consumers with active lifestyles seek to improve their performance without negative effects and post-workout ‘crash’ or jitters associated with alkaloid stimulants, such as caffeine. OxyStorm is a highly concentrated source of nitrate at about 9-10%. By comparison, the current nitrate source trend, beet extracts and concentrates, typically contain only about 2% nitrate.
“Our farmers grow the amaranthus, harvest the leaves, and deliver them to our state-of-the-art processing facility in Kerala, India. The active ingredient is carefully extracted and submitted for advanced product testing to ensure ingredient identity and product safety. Arjuna consistently promotes transparency of production with our natural ingredients, keeping them safe and pure.”
