
If you're committed to working out, you may be looking for ways to improve endurance, recover faster, and get more out of every training session. There are plenty of pre-workout supplements on the market, but figuring out which ones are actually worth your money can be challenging. One increasingly popular option is a nitric oxide supplement. Research suggests these formulas can enhance exercise performance, support muscle recovery, and even promote healthy blood flow throughout the body.1 27 28
But not all products are created equal. Ingredient quality, dosing, and formulation vary considerably, which is why some are far more effective than others. In this guide, we'll help you identify the nitric oxide supplements that stand out from the rest.
If you don't have time to read the full guide, take a look at our top recommendations below.
Type Zero combines clinically relevant doses of nitric oxide and performance ingredients in a clean, naturally flavored formula.
Type Zero makes vegan- and keto-friendly supplements without artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Its blend of citrulline malate, arginine AKG, betaine, and other performance ingredients is designed to increase nitric oxide production, improve blood flow, support stronger workouts, and help you stay focused from your first set to your last.
Shop on TypeZero.com and receive 15% off with code INNERBODY15.
At Innerbody Research, we extensively test each health service or product we review, including nitric oxide boosters. Our team purchased and tested top products to determine which ones are superior, which ones could benefit specific individuals, and which ones to avoid. That testing experience allows us to relay to you critical information about taste, mixability, shipping, and customer service. We were also able to see how these supplements made us feel and whether they had any effect on our exercise regimen. Our testers aren’t professional athletes or trainers but instead regular folks who intend to get a healthy amount of exercise and eat well.
To bolster our team’s experiences with a deeper understanding of the topic, we devoted nearly 600 hours to studying more than 150 scholarly articles pertaining to fitness and nitric oxide. Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy. We’ll stay on top of any developments in the NO landscape to ensure our recommendations remain current.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.
Nitric oxide supplements are used for a variety of reasons, from supporting exercise performance and recovery to promoting healthy blood flow. To identify the best options, we evaluated each product across five key categories:
Effectiveness carried the most weight, with preference given to products that provide clinically relevant doses of well-studied ingredients. Safety was a close second, taking into account potential interactions, side effects, and ingredient transparency. We also considered taste and mixability for powdered supplements, since they're more likely to become part of your routine if they're pleasant to use. Cost helped us identify products that deliver strong value, while convenience factored in things like serving size, dosing flexibility, and refund policies for first-time buyers.
Advantage: Type Zero Clean Stim-Free Pre-Workout
When we evaluated effectiveness, we looked for formulas that aligned with the ingredients and doses most consistently supported by human research. Most nitric oxide supplements rely on one of three approaches: L-citrulline, L-arginine, or dietary nitrates from ingredients like beetroot. These remain the strongest-supported ways to increase nitric oxide availability, improve blood flow, and support exercise performance.2
What ultimately set Type Zero apart wasn't that it contained one exceptional ingredient — it was that it combined two of the best-studied nitric oxide precursors with several well-supported performance ingredients in a thoughtfully balanced formula. It provides:
We also appreciated what Type Zero doesn't include. Many nitric oxide formulas rely on stimulants to make workouts feel more effective. Type Zero instead lets the nitric oxide ingredients do the heavy lifting, making it an excellent option for evening workouts or anyone who wants better blood flow and performance without caffeine.
Gorilla Mode Nitric came very close to earning this category. In fact, if your only goal is maximizing gym performance, muscle pumps, and training intensity, we'd probably lean toward Gorilla Mode Nitric. It packs in an enormous number of performance ingredients, including creatine, glycerol, taurine, and several nitric oxide boosters, making it one of the most comprehensive pre-workout formulas we reviewed.
Ultimately, though, we felt Type Zero struck the better overall balance. It focuses on the ingredients with the strongest evidence for nitric oxide production while adding several complementary performance ingredients, making it the formula we'd recommend to the widest range of people.
Advantage: HumanN SPORT Pre-Workout
When evaluating safety, we looked for products that use well-studied ingredients, undergo independent testing, and follow high manufacturing standards. HumanN earned the advantage for several reasons:
Kaged also impressed us with its Informed Sport certification, third-party testing, and straightforward single-ingredient formula, but HumanN ultimately earned the advantage because its beetroot formula has also been evaluated in a randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trial.26 While Kaged wasn't far behind, HumanN’s additional quality assurance gave it the edge in our safety evaluation.
Regardless of which supplement you choose, it's important to remember that nitric oxide boosters aren't appropriate for everyone. Because they increase nitric oxide availability and relax blood vessels, they can interact with certain medications, particularly nitrates prescribed for chest pain and some blood pressure medications. If you have cardiovascular disease or take prescription medications, it's a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider before starting a nitric oxide supplement.5
Advantage: Type Zero
When it comes to taste and mixability, Type Zero earned the edge. As a pre-workout, it's designed to be something you'll actually look forward to drinking, and it succeeds. Its fruity flavors are well-balanced without being overly sweet or artificial, and the powder dissolves easily with minimal clumping. The company also relies primarily on stevia instead of artificial sweeteners, giving it a cleaner finish than many competing pre-workouts.
HumanN SPORT Pre-Workout narrowly missed the top spot. Like Type Zero, it mixes easily into water, with only a small amount of clumping that disappeared after a little extra stirring. It’s unmistakably beet-forward but tempered by cherry notes, creating a flavor that our testers enjoyed much more than they’d expected.
Advantage: Kaged L-Citrulline
When evaluating value, we considered more than just the sticker price. We also looked at cost per serving, ingredient quality, and independent testing to determine the overall value.
Kaged L-Citrulline stood out by delivering:
But if outright affordability is your top priority, Nutricost L-Arginine deserves an honorable mention here. At $14.97 for a one-time purchase (or $11.98 with a subscription), it delivers a full 5g serving at one of the lowest prices we found. But unlike Kaged, Nutricost lacks Informed Sport certification, an important consideration for competitive athletes and anyone who values that extra level of third-party verification.
Advantage: HumanN
Convenience extends beyond how easy a supplement is to take. We also considered factors like shipping, subscriptions, return policies, customer support, and the overall purchasing experience.
HumanN earned the advantage for several reasons:
Type Zero also performed well in this category. It offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, responsive live chat, and a straightforward purchasing experience, but HumanN ultimately edged it out with its longer guarantee period.
In order to get a clear sense of how the top nitric oxide boosters compare, we've put together a handy chart. Prices in the chart reflect one-time purchases before any discounts for bulk or subscription programs would apply (prices have been rounded to the nearest cent or dollar).
Special Offer from Type Zero: 15% OFF with code INNERBODY15
Nitric oxide (NO) is a colorless gas that serves a specialized role in the body as a signaling molecule responsible, in part, for vasodilation.30 This means that it increases blood flow throughout your body by relaxing blood vessel muscles, which lowers blood pressure and can help red blood cells deliver more oxygen. Your body produces nitric oxide from the amino acid L-arginine, and can also generate it from dietary nitrates found in foods like leafy greens and beets.31 Vitamin C and other antioxidants may help support these pathways under certain conditions.32
Nitric oxide production also tends to decline with age and can be impaired by cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and physical inactivity. This can cause issues like:
Eating foods rich in nitrates, exercising regularly, and taking probiotics or antioxidants can help boost nitric oxide levels naturally. Some people opt for nitric oxide supplements, which use various ingredients to increase levels of nitric oxide production.
Nitric oxide supplements, or NO boosters, don't actually contain nitric oxide. Instead, they provide ingredients your body uses to produce more of it. Researchers typically evaluate these ingredients by measuring changes in blood pressure, blood flow, exercise performance, muscle recovery, and other markers of nitric oxide activity.29
Popular ingredients in nitric oxide supplements include:
Thanks to its role in supplements designed to address male sexual dysfunction, L-arginine has undergone a significant amount of research.3 It's one of the best-studied nitric oxide precursors and has demonstrated modest benefits for blood pressure and endothelial function in human studies.21 33 Although a study from 2011 measuring V0₂ max in trained cyclists found that arginine had no meaningful effect, some evidence suggests it may perform better in lesser-trained individuals.1 4 Typical doses in studies range from 1.5g to 25g per day, with effects observed even at the lower end of that range.
L-citrulline is often administered alongside or instead of L-arginine because it's converted into L-arginine in the body and raises circulating arginine levels more efficiently.34 Doses around 6g have been common in clinical studies and have produced blood pressure effects comparable to those seen with L-arginine.5 An 8g study involving resistance-trained men also found improvements in workout performance and reduced post-exercise muscle soreness.6 More recent reviews continue to support modest improvements in muscular endurance and recovery, though benefits for aerobic endurance remain mixed.27
Beetroot is one of the richest natural dietary sources of nitrate and has become among the best-studied ingredients for increasing nitric oxide production.7 Comparing beetroot supplements can be challenging, as some contain powder, others use concentrated extracts, and many of the clinical studies have evaluated beetroot juice instead. Even so, more recent systematic reviews continue to support modest reductions in blood pressure and small improvements in exercise performance, particularly when supplements provide standardized nitrate doses.8 35
L-norvaline hasn't been studied nearly as extensively as L-arginine or L-citrulline, though animal research suggests it may help increase nitric oxide availability by inhibiting arginase, the enzyme that breaks down arginine.9 Unfortunately, L-norvaline is less widely available than other nitric oxide ingredients and is often more expensive. There have also been reports of potential toxicity, though more recent analyses suggest those concerns may have been overstated.10
Clinical research involving dialysis patients showed that betaine could help regulate blood pressure, though less dramatically than dedicated nitric oxide precursors.11 Additional research has shown that betaine helps maintain healthy homocysteine levels, an amino acid linked to cardiovascular disease when present at elevated levels.12 It has also been studied for improving exercise performance, making it a useful addition to many nitric oxide formulas.
Pine bark extract appears in several nitric oxide supplements because it may help support endothelial function. However, most human studies have evaluated it alongside L-arginine (and sometimes grape seed extract), making it difficult to determine how much benefit pine bark provides on its own.13
For most healthy adults, nitric oxide supplements appear to be well -tolerated when taken as directed. The ingredients with the strongest evidence — L-citrulline, L-arginine, and dietary nitrates from beetroot — have all been evaluated in numerous human clinical trials, where reported side effects are generally mild and most commonly include digestive discomfort, headache, or temporary reductions in blood pressure.29 30 31
The primary safety consideration is their effect on blood pressure. Because nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels, these supplements can enhance the effects of medications that also lower blood pressure. As a result, you should speak with your healthcare provider before taking a nitric oxide supplement if you:2
Many nitric oxide supplements are also marketed as pre-workouts and combine several nitric oxide-supporting ingredients into a single formula. While these combinations are generally considered safe for healthy adults, there's relatively little research evaluating how multiple nitric oxide precursors interact compared to studying each ingredient individually.1 Fortunately, most commercial products provide ingredient doses that fall within — or below — the ranges commonly evaluated in human clinical trials.27
Nitric oxide supplements are best suited for adults looking to improve blood flow, exercise performance, or cardiovascular health. While different ingredients work through different mechanisms, the strongest evidence supports benefits that are generally modest rather than dramatic. They're best viewed as tools to complement a healthy lifestyle, not replace one.1 27 35
More specifically, the following groups stand to benefit most:
Several nitric oxide ingredients, particularly beetroot-derived nitrates and L-arginine, have been shown to modestly reduce blood pressure by improving blood vessel function. These supplements aren't a replacement for prescription medication, but they may provide additional support alongside lifestyle changes.8 14 35
Nitric oxide plays a critical role in achieving erections by increasing blood flow to penile tissue. While the evidence for supplements is mixed, some studies suggest L-arginine and L-citrulline may improve erectile function, particularly in men with mild ED or when combined with other nitric oxide-supporting ingredients.15 36 44
Nitric oxide supplements aren't the right fit for everyone. You may want to consider another approach if you fall into one of the following groups:
Nitric oxide supplements can improve blood flow, muscular endurance, and recovery, but their effects are generally modest. They shouldn't be viewed as a replacement for progressive training, proper nutrition, or adequate recovery.27
Because nitric oxide supplements can lower blood pressure, combining them with prescription nitrates or some antihypertensive medications may increase the risk of excessive blood pressure reduction. Anyone taking these medications should consult their healthcare provider before using a nitric oxide supplement.5
Although nitric oxide is essential for normal erectile function, supplements don't work like prescription PDE5 inhibitors. Research suggests they may provide modest benefits for some men with mild erectile dysfunction, but they shouldn't be expected to produce the same results as medications like sildenafil or tadalafil.15 36
Best overall and best tasting

Photo by Innerbody Research
Type Zero doesn’t have as large a catalog as many of its competitors, but what it does make, it makes well. In our testing, this company’s formulas have consistently offered some of the best dosages and the best flavors we’ve encountered. Its Clean Stim-Free Pre-Workout is no exception.
The formula combines several well-studied performance ingredients into one transparent blend, pairing citrulline malate and arginine AKG to support nitric oxide production through complementary pathways. It rounds out the formula with betaine, beta-alanine, and several popular nootropic ingredients, including Alpha GPC and N-acetyl L-tyrosine.18
Some of the formula's highlights include:
One ingredient worth mentioning is huperzine A. While the 200mcg dose used here appears to be well-tolerated by healthy adults, some experts recommend taking periodic breaks because huperzine A remains active in the body for many hours, and excessive acetylcholine activity may increase the risk of side effects such as headaches, nausea, and confusion.51 52
The company also offers a capsule-based NO booster that lacks some of the nootropic pre-workout ingredients found here and provides lower doses overall. In our opinion, the choice is clear: the Clean Stim-Free Pre-Workout powder is far superior.
Type Zero Clean Stim-Free Pre-Workout is our out-and-out winner for taste. This has been true for pretty much every category in which one of its supplements has made an appearance. The flavors available for its NO booster are:
Type Zero's powder mixes very well into water. While it isn't quite as seamless as a single-ingredient amino acid like Kaged L-Citrulline or Nutricost L-Arginine, it still dissolves quickly with minimal clumping and was among the best-mixing multi-ingredient formulas we tested.
Type Zero isn't the least expensive nitric oxide supplement in our guide, but it's one of the most comprehensive. A one-time purchase costs $29.99 for 21 servings ($1.43 per serving). Choosing a subscription saves 20%, bringing the cost down to $23.99, or about $1.14 per serving.
Additionally, readers can save an extra 15% with our exclusive INNERBODY15 promo code.
Type Zero also backs its products with a 60-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to decide whether it's the right fit. Shipping is free on orders of $50 or more, so purchasing two tubs or bundling products qualifies for free standard shipping. Otherwise, standard shipping starts at $5.
Best beetroot option

Image by Innerbody Research
HumanN has built its brand around one ingredient: beets. While the company also sells a handful of greens, turmeric, and vitamin products, its core lineup is devoted to beet-based supplements in powders, gummies, chews, and tablets.
Beetroot is one of the best-studied natural sources of dietary nitrate.7 After you consume it, nitrate is converted into nitrite and then nitric oxide, a molecule that helps relax blood vessels, improve circulation, and support exercise performance. That's why beetroot has become a staple ingredient in many nitric oxide supplements and pre-workouts.
HumanN Sport (formerly SuperBeets Sport and, before that, BeetElite) is the company's performance-focused formula. It's NSF Certified for Sport, meaning it has been independently tested for substances banned by major athletic organizations, but its benefits aren't limited to competitive athletes. Anyone looking to increase their dietary nitrate intake can potentially benefit from its concentrated beetroot formula.
One thing HumanN doesn't disclose is exactly how much beetroot powder each serving contains. The total serving size is 10g, however, and when we contacted the company through its live chat, a representative confirmed that a little less than 1g comes from the other ingredients, including natural cherry flavor and magnesium ascorbate. That leaves more than 9g of beetroot powder per serving, making it one of the highest-dose beet formulas we've evaluated.
HumanN's product also stands apart because it's supported by company-sponsored clinical research. While manufacturer-funded studies should always be interpreted with appropriate caution, they can still provide valuable insight when they're well designed. HumanN has published research showing:
Although these studies were funded by HumanN, the trial designs appear methodologically sound and help support the product's intended uses alongside the broader body of research on dietary nitrate and beetroot supplementation.
HumanN Sport was one of our testers' favorite-tasting products in this guide, finishing second only to Type Zero. Rather than trying to mask the natural beet flavor with excessive sweetness, HumanN leans into it. The Wild Cherry flavor and stevia provide just enough sweetness to complement the earthy beet profile without overpowering it.
That's good news if you enjoy the taste of beets, but it's something to keep in mind if you don't. Unlike some flavored pre-workouts, HumanN Sport still tastes unmistakably like beetroot — the cherry flavor simply rounds out the edges.
Mixability was also excellent. It takes a little stirring, but the powder dissolves completely in the recommended amount of water. It left virtually no grit or sediment by the time we finished our drinks.
HumanN has made Sport much more competitive since our last review by adding both bulk purchase and subscription discounts. A single canister costs $39.95 (about $2 per serving), while purchasing multiple canisters or subscribing can significantly reduce the cost per serving. Subscription orders also include free shipping and can be adjusted or canceled at any time.
That breaks down like this:
| Total price | Price per serving | |
|---|---|---|
| One-time (1 canister) | $39.95 | $2.00 |
| One-time (3 canisters, 9% off) | $109.06 | $1.82 |
| One-time (6 canisters, 15% off) | $203.75 | $1.70 |
| Subscription (1 canister, 10% off) | $35.96 | $1.80 |
| Subscription (3 canisters, 18% off) | $98.16 | $1.64 |
| Subscription (6 canisters, 24% off) | $183.40 | $1.53 |
One-time purchases incur an $8.95 shipping fee, though orders over $75 ship free. All subscription orders include free shipping, making them the best overall value.
HumanN also continues to offer the longest money-back guarantee in this guide. Its 90-day satisfaction guarantee gives you ample time to determine whether HumanN Sport is a good fit, which is especially reassuring if you're new to beet supplements or aren't sure you'll enjoy their distinctive flavor.
Best budget pick

Image by Innerbody Research
Founded in 2015, Kaged has built a reputation for producing sports supplements that combine strong quality control with research-backed ingredients. Its L-Citrulline powder is a great example. Rather than combining several ingredients into a proprietary blend, Kaged focuses on a single nitric oxide precursor with one of the strongest bodies of evidence behind it. There are two key reasons L-citrulline has become the preferred standalone nitric oxide ingredient:
Kaged uses fermented L-citrulline, a vegan-friendly ingredient produced through microbial fermentation rather than chemical synthesis. While fermentation hasn't been shown to improve absorption or effectiveness, it's commonly used to produce high-purity amino acids.
Each serving provides 2g of L-citrulline. That's below the 6-8g commonly used in studies examining exercise performance, but it also gives users flexibility.38 Because each container provides 100 servings at one of the lowest prices in our guide, it's easy to increase the serving size based on your goals while still paying considerably less than you would for most multi-ingredient nitric oxide formulas.
Kaged L-Citrulline mixes exceptionally well. After just a few seconds of stirring, very little residue remained, producing one of the smoothest drinks in our testing. There was virtually no grit left behind, and the powder stayed well dissolved from the first sip to the last.
The powder is also practically tasteless. On its own, there's only the faintest hint of tartness, but it's subtle enough that most people are unlikely to notice it. When mixed into juice, a smoothie, or another flavored beverage, it becomes virtually undetectable.
Where Kaged really stands out is price.
| Price | Cost per serving | |
|---|---|---|
| One-time purchase | $15.00 | $0.15 |
| First subscription order (20% off) | $12.00 | $0.12 |
| Recurring subscription (10% off) | $13.50 | $0.14 |
At just $15 for 100 servings, Kaged offers one of the lowest per-serving prices in this guide. Choosing a subscription drops the cost to $12 ($0.12 per serving), includes free shipping, and lets you select deliveries every 4, 6, or 8 weeks. After the initial order, subscriptions continue at 10% off ($0.14 per serving) and can be paused, modified, or canceled at any time. Customers who prefer a one-time purchase should expect to pay about $8 for standard shipping.
Kaged also backs its supplements with a 60-day money-back guarantee, matching Type Zero and offering more protection than Gorilla Mind, which doesn't provide a satisfaction guarantee.
Best pre-workout

Image by Innerbody Research
Gorilla Mode Nitric is Gorilla Mind's flagship stimulant-free pre-workout. While the company offers several products designed to enhance exercise performance, this formula takes a comprehensive approach to nitric oxide production by combining ingredients that work through multiple complementary pathways. Rather than relying on a single nitric oxide precursor, Gorilla Mode Nitric pairs L-citrulline with dietary nitrate while also including several well-studied ingredients that may support strength, endurance, hydration, and muscle pumps.
Some of the formula's highlights include:
Several of these ingredients are included at or near doses commonly used in human research, particularly betaine, glycerol, and VasoDrive-AP. While the 5g of L-citrulline falls just below the 6-8g often used in exercise studies, it's still a substantial dose, especially when paired with dietary nitrate. Likewise, the 2.5g of creatine doesn't quite reach the typical 3-5g daily maintenance dose, but it can still contribute meaningfully if you're already supplementing with creatine or consistently using Gorilla Mode Nitric as your pre-workout.
In much the same way that HumanN SPORT Pre-Workout's earthy beet flavor may not appeal to everyone, Gorilla Mode Nitric's sweetness proved divisive among our testers. There's no shortage of options to choose from (13 flavors in total), but all of the ones we've tried are artificially flavored and sweetened with sucralose. The result is a very sweet, almost candy-like beverage that some testers enjoyed, while others found overly sweet.
Gorilla Mode Nitric mixes exceptionally well with water, leaving virtually no grit or sediment behind. That's a good thing, because its intensely sweet flavors don't lend themselves particularly well to mixing into other beverages.
Gorilla Mind offers savings through both subscriptions and bulk purchases, though they're not quite as generous as those of some competitors. For example, Type Zero discounts subscriptions by 20%, compared to Gorilla Mind's 10%.
| Total price | Cost per serving | |
|---|---|---|
| One-time purchase | $59.99 | $1.50 |
| Subscription (10% off) | $53.99 | $1.35 |
Shipping costs $9.95 on one-time purchases under $75. Orders over that threshold ship free, and all subscription orders include free shipping regardless of order size.
Gorilla Mind's return policy is considerably less generous than those of several other companies in this guide. The company accepts returns only for unopened products within 30 days and doesn't offer a money-back guarantee if you've already tried the product. By comparison, Type Zero offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, while HumanN extends its guarantee to 90 days.
Best for erectile dysfunction

Photo by Innerbody Research
Nitric oxide plays a central role in erectile function by relaxing the smooth muscle within the penis and allowing blood vessels to dilate. In fact, medications like sildenafil (Viagra) work in part by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide rather than creating erections independently. That connection has led researchers to investigate whether increasing nitric oxide through supplementation can improve erectile function, particularly in men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.
Among over-the-counter ingredients, L-arginine has the strongest body of evidence for this specific use. While L-citrulline often does a better job of raising circulating arginine levels, the majority of clinical trials evaluating erectile dysfunction have used L-arginine, typically at doses between 3g and 6g per day, with 5g being one of the most commonly studied amounts.36
That's exactly what Nutricost delivers in a single scoop. Rather than combining smaller amounts of several nitric oxide ingredients, it provides a straightforward 5g serving of pure L-arginine, making it easy to match the doses used in much of the published research. For readers specifically interested in erectile function, we think that's a more evidence-based approach than relying on blends or lower-dose combinations.
Of course, L-arginine isn't a replacement for prescription ED medications, and it won't work for everyone. However, systematic reviews suggest it may meaningfully improve erectile function, particularly among men with mild to moderate ED, with greater benefits observed when higher doses are used consistently.
Like Kaged's L-citrulline, Nutricost L-Arginine mixes exceptionally well. After just a few seconds of stirring, very little residue remained, producing a smooth drink with virtually no grit left behind. The powder stayed well suspended from the first sip to the last, making it easy to mix into water or your beverage of choice.
The biggest drawback compared with Kaged's L-citrulline is the taste. Whereas Kaged is practically flavorless, Nutricost's L-arginine has a distinctly bitter taste that our testing team didn't enjoy drinking in plain water. Mixing it into juice, a smoothie, or another flavored beverage can help mask some of the bitterness. If taste is a deciding factor, we'd lean toward Kaged's L-citrulline. Although L-arginine has been studied much more extensively for erectile dysfunction, early research suggests L-citrulline may also provide benefits in some men.50
At $14.97 for 50 servings, Nutricost L-Arginine is one of the least expensive products in our guide, costing just $0.30 per serving despite providing a clinically relevant 5g dose. Readers who expect to use it long term can save even more by purchasing one of the larger container sizes or signing up for a subscription.
| Total price | Cost per serving | |
|---|---|---|
| 250g (One-time) | $14.97 | $0.30 |
| 500g (One-time) | $24.97 | $0.25 |
| 1kg (One-time) | $38.97 | $0.19 |
| 250g (Subscription) | $11.98 | $0.24 |
| 500g (Subscription) | $19.98 | $0.20 |
| 1kg (Subscription) | $31.18 | $0.16 |
Orders over $59 qualify for free shipping; otherwise, standard shipping costs $7. Nutricost also lets you schedule subscriptions every 30 days, two months, or four months, and those options make more sense than they might initially appear.
At the recommended 5g serving, the 250g tub lasts about 50 days, making the two-month subscription the most practical option for most users. The larger tubs make the most sense if you're taking higher daily doses (around 8-10g), which are similar to those used in some exercise-performance studies.
Nitric oxide supplements can be an effective way to support blood flow, exercise performance, and cardiovascular health, but they aren't always the best solution for every goal. Depending on what you're trying to accomplish, one of the alternatives below may be a better fit — or may complement a nitric oxide supplement as part of a broader wellness strategy.
If your primary goal is to build muscle, increase strength, or improve high-intensity exercise performance, creatine monohydrate has substantially stronger evidence than nitric oxide supplements. Hundreds of clinical trials have demonstrated improvements in strength, power output, lean muscle mass, and repeated sprint performance, making creatine one of the most extensively researched sports supplements available.19
That doesn't mean nitric oxide supplements are ineffective — they may improve endurance, blood flow, and the "muscle pump" many people enjoy during training — but if you could choose only one performance supplement, creatine would be the more evidence-based option for most people. We cover the science in greater detail in our guide to the best creatine supplements.
Nitric oxide plays a central role in achieving and maintaining an erection, but prescription medications such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) have considerably stronger evidence for treating erectile dysfunction. Rather than increasing nitric oxide production, these medications prolong nitric oxide's effects by preventing the breakdown of cyclic GMP (cGMP), allowing blood vessels in the penis to remain relaxed for longer.45
Because both nitric oxide supplements and PDE5 inhibitors can lower blood pressure, they shouldn't be combined without first speaking with your healthcare provider. If you're considering prescription treatment, our guide to the best erectile dysfunction treatments explains how these medications compare.
If your primary concern is cardiovascular health rather than athletic performance, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may be worth considering. Unlike nitric oxide supplements, CoQ10 doesn't directly increase nitric oxide production. Instead, it supports mitochondrial energy production while helping reduce oxidative stress, which may improve endothelial function and preserve nitric oxide availability.46 Clinical studies have also associated CoQ10 supplementation with modest improvements in blood pressure and other markers of cardiovascular health.47
If you'd like to learn more, we've also reviewed the best CoQ10 supplements and the research supporting them.
No supplement can replace the benefits of healthy lifestyle habits. Regular aerobic exercise naturally stimulates nitric oxide production by increasing blood flow and activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), while a diet rich in vegetables provides the dietary nitrates your body needs to produce nitric oxide.23 48
Some of the best dietary sources of nitrate include:
Other foods that may support healthy nitric oxide production include citrus fruits, pomegranate, garlic, and watermelon, which naturally contain L-citrulline.
Sources
Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bescós, R., Sureda, A., Tur, J. A., & Pons, A. (2012). The effect of nitric-oxide-related supplements on human performance. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 42(2), 99–117.
National Institutes of Health. (2022, June 2). Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Viribay, A., Burgos, J., Fernández-Landa, J., Seco-Calvo, J., & Mielgo-Ayuso, J. (2020). Effects of Arginine Supplementation on Athletic Performance Based on Energy Metabolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 12(5).
Sunderland, K. L., Greer, F., & Morales, J. (2011). VO2max and ventilatory threshold of trained cyclists are not affected by 28-day L-arginine supplementation. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(3), 833–837.
Gonzalez, A. M., & Trexler, E. T. (2020). Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(5), 1480–1495.
Pérez-Guisado, J., & Jakeman, P. M. (2010). Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(5), 1215–1222.
Kukadia, S., Dehbi, H., Tillin, T., Coady, E., Chaturvedi, N., & Hughes, A. D. (2019). A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study of the Effect of Beetroot Juice Containing Dietary Nitrate on Aortic and Brachial Blood Pressure Over 24 h. Frontiers in Physiology, 10.
Bonilla Ocampo, D. A., Paipilla, A. F., Marín, E., Vargas-Molina, S., Petro, J. L., & Pérez-Idárraga, A. (2018). Dietary Nitrate from Beetroot Juice for Hypertension: A Systematic Review. Biomolecules, 8(4).
De, A., Singh, M. F., Singh, V., Ram, V., & Bisht, S. (2016). Treatment effect of l-Norvaline on the sexual performance of male rats with streptozotocin induced diabetes. European Journal of Pharmacology, 771, 247-254.
Polis, B., Gilinsky, M. A., & Samson, A. O. (2019). Reports of L-Norvaline Toxicity in Humans May Be Greatly Overstated. Brain Sciences, 9(12).
Wang, L., Zhao, M., Liu, W., Li, X., Chu, H., Bai, Y., Sun, Z., Gao, C., Zheng, L., & Yang, J. (2018). Association of betaine with blood pressure in dialysis patients. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 20(2), 388-393.
Olthof, M. R., van Vliet, T., Boelsma, E., & Verhoef, P. (2003). Low Dose Betaine Supplementation Leads to Immediate and Long Term Lowering of Plasma Homocysteine in Healthy Men and Women. The Journal of Nutrition, 133(12), 4135-4138.
Camic, C. L., Housh, T. J., Mielke, M., Zuniga, J. M., Hendrix, C. R., Johnson, G. O., Schmidt, R. J., & Housh, D. J. (2010). The effects of 4 weeks of an arginine-based supplement on the gas exchange threshold and peak oxygen uptake. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 35(3), 286–293.
Houston, M., & Hays, L. (2014). Acute Effects of an Oral Nitric Oxide Supplement on Blood Pressure, Endothelial Function, and Vascular Compliance in Hypertensive Patients. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 16(7), 524-529.
Davies, K. P. (2015). Development and therapeutic applications of nitric oxide releasing materials to treat erectile dysfunction. Future Science OA, 1(1).
Lansley, K. E., Winyard, P. G., Bailey, S. J., Vanhatalo, A., Wilkerson, D. P., Blackwell, J. R., Gilchrist, M., Benjamin, N., & Jones, A. M. (2011). Acute dietary nitrate supplementation improves cycling time trial performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43(6), 1125–1131.
Bescós, R., Rodríguez, F. A., Iglesias, X., Ferrer, M. D., Iborra, E., & Pons, A. (2011). Acute administration of inorganic nitrate reduces VO(2peak) in endurance athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43(10), 1979–1986.
Steenbergen, L., Sellaro, R., Hommel, B., & Colzato, L. S. (2015). Tyrosine promotes cognitive flexibility: evidence from proactive vs. reactive control during task switching performance. Neuropsychologia, 69, 50–55.
Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, Ziegenfuss TN, Wildman R, Collins R, Candow DG, Kleiner SM, Almada AL, Lopez HL. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2017;14:18.
Morita, M., Hayashi, T., Ochiai, M., Maeda, M., Yamaguchi, T., Ina, K., & Kuzuya, M. (2014). Oral supplementation with a combination of l-citrulline and l-arginine rapidly increases plasma l-arginine concentration and enhances NO bioavailability. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 454(1), 53-57.
Rytlewski, K., Olszanecki, R., Korbut, R. and Zdebski, Z. (2005), Effects of prolonged oral supplementation with l-arginine on blood pressure and nitric oxide synthesis in preeclampsia. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 35: 32-37.
Andersson, E. (2018). PDE5 inhibitors — pharmacology and clinical applications 20 years after sildenafil discovery. British Journal of Pharmacology, 175(13), 2554-2565.
Tsukiyama, Y., Ito, T., Nagaoka, K., Eguchi, E., & Ogino, K. (2017). Effects of exercise training on nitric oxide, blood pressure and antioxidant enzymes. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 60(3), 180-186.
Cholewa JM, Wyszczelska-Rokiel M, Glowacki R, Jakubowski H, Matthews T, Wood R, Craig SAS, Paolone V. Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013;10:39.
Clifford T, Howatson G, West DJ, Stevenson EJ. The Potential Benefits of Red Beetroot Supplementation in Health and Disease. Nutrients. 2015;7(4):2801-2822.
Bock, J. M., Ueda, K., Schneider, A. C., Hughes, W. E., Limberg, J. K., Bryan, N. S., & Casey, D. P. (2018). Mining Natural Products for Cardiovascular Benefits: Inorganic nitrate supplementation attenuates peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity but does not improve cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity in older adults. American Journal of Physiology — Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 314(1), H45-H51.
Gonzalez, A. M., Townsend, J. R., Pinzone, A. G., & Hoffman, J. R. (2023). Supplementation with Nitric Oxide Precursors for Strength Performance: A Review of the Current Literature. Nutrients, 15(3), 660.
Jones, A. (2016). Dietary Nitric Oxide Precursors and Exercise Performance. Sports Science Exchange, 29(156), 1-6.
Ahmad, A., Dempsey, S. K., Daneva, Z., Azam, M., Li, N., Li, L., & Ritter, J. K. (2018). Role of Nitric Oxide in the Cardiovascular and Renal Systems. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(9).
Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E, Gladwin MT. The nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2008;7(2):156–167.
Lundberg JO, Carlström M, Weitzberg E. Metabolic Effects of Dietary Nitrate in Health and Disease. Cell Metabolism. 2018;28(1):9-22.
Lbban E, Ashor A, Shannon OM, Idris I, Siervo M. Is vitamin C a booster of the effects of dietary nitrate on endothelial function? Physiologic rationale and implications for research. Nutrition. 2023;109:111995.
Gambardella J, Khondkar W, Morelli MB, Wang X, Santulli G, Trimarco V. Arginine and Endothelial Function. Biomedicines. 2020;8(8):277.
Schwedhelm E, Maas MD, Freese R, Jung D, Lukacs Z, Jambrecina A, Spickler W, Schulze F, Böger RH. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: impact on nitric oxide metabolism. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2008;65(1):51-59.
Grönroos R, Eggertsen R, Bernhardsson S, Praetorius Björk M. Effects of beetroot juice on blood pressure in hypertension according to European Society of Hypertension Guidelines: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. 2024;34(10):2240-2256.
Rhim HC, Kim MS, Park YJ, Choi WS, Park HK, Kim HG, Aram Kim, Paick SH. The Potential Role of Arginine Supplements on Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2019;16(2):223-234. Erratum in: J Sex Med. 2020;17(3):560.
d'Unienville NMA, Blake HT, Coates AM, Hill AM, Nelson MJ, Buckley JD. Effect of food sources of nitrate, polyphenols, L-arginine and L-citrulline on endurance exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2021;18(1):76.
Viribay A, Fernández-Landa J, Castañeda-Babarro A, Collado PS, Fernández-Lázaro D, Mielgo-Ayuso J. Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Different Aerobic Exercise Performance Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2022;14(17):3479.
Broeder, C. E., Flores, V., Julian, B., Wojan, F., Tauber, R., Schubert, L., Salacinski, A., & Ivy, J. L. (2021). Nitric oxide enhancement supplement containing beet nitrite and nitrate benefits high intensity cycle interval training. Current Research in Physiology, 4, 183-191.
Goulet EDB, Aubertin-Leheudre M, Plante GE, Dionne IJ. A meta-analysis of the effects of glycerol-induced hyperhydration on fluid retention and endurance performance. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2007;17(4):391-410.
Deng H, Song T, Yin M, et al. Does One Shot Work? The Acute Impact of a Single Taurine Dose on Exercise Performance: A Meta-Analytic Review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2025;35(9):e70123.
Jones AM. Dietary nitrate supplementation and exercise performance. Sports Medicine. 2014;44(Suppl 1):S35-S45.
Tomiyama H, Fujii M, Shiina K, Ueda S, Iwasaki Y, Matsumoto C, Chikamori T. Effects of Lactotripeptide Supplementation on Tele-Monitored Home Blood Pressure and on Vascular and Renal Function in Prehypertension—Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study. Circulation Reports. 2019;1(10):438-444.
Menafra D, de Angelis C, Garifalos F, Mazzella M, Galdiero G, Piscopo M, Castoro M, Verde N, Pivonello C, Simeoli C, Auriemma RSA, Colao A, Pivonello R. Long-term high-dose l-arginine supplementation in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 2022;45(5):941-961.
Cianciarulo C, Nguyen TH, Zacharias A, Standen N, Tucci J, Irving H. Analysis of Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) Inhibitors in Modulating Inflammatory Markers in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025;26(15):7155.
Gutierrez-Mariscal FM, Arenas-de Larriva AP, Limia-Perez L, Romero-Cabrera JL, Yubero-Serrano EM, López-Miranda J. Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation for the Reduction of Oxidative Stress: Clinical Implications in the Treatment of Chronic Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(21):7870.
Zhao D, Liang Y, Dai S, Hou S, Liu Z, Liu M, Dong X, Zhan Y, Tian Z, Yang Y. Dose-Response Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Blood Pressure among Patients with Cardiometabolic Disorders: A Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Advances in Nutrition. 2022;13(6):2180-2194.
Kobayashi J, Ohtake K, Uchida H. NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases. Nutrients. 2015;7(6):4911-4937.
Rafi H, Rafiq H, Farhan M. Pharmacological profile of agmatine: An in-depth overview. Neuropeptides. 2024;105:102429.
Shirai, M., Hiramatsu, I., Aoki, Y., Shimoyama, H., Mizuno, T., Nozaki, T., Fukuhara, S., Iwasa, A., Kageyama, S., & Tsujimura, A. (2018). Oral L-citrulline and Transresveratrol Supplementation Improves Erectile Function in Men With Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Pilot Study. Sexual Medicine, 6(4), 291-296.
Damar, U., Gersner, R., Johnstone, J. T., Schachter, S., & Rotenberg, A. (2017). Huperzine A: A promising anticonvulsant, disease modifying, and memory enhancing treatment option in Alzheimer’s disease. Medical Hypotheses, 99, 57-62.
Lott, E. & Jones, E. (2022). Cholinergic Toxicity. StatPearls Publishing.
Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2015;12(1):30.
Bellar D, LeBlanc NR, Campbell B. The effect of 6 days of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on isometric strength. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2015;12(1):42.
Solon-Júnior LJF, Boullosa D, Dias CV, de Sousa Fortes L. Effects of L-Tyrosine Ingestion on Endurance Performance in Mentally Fatigued Cyclists. European Journal of Sport Science. 2026;26(4).