Product advantages

• Complete utilization of all metabolic pathways leading to nitric oxide synthesis.
• Increase aerobic capacity.
• Naturally increase energy metabolism without the effect of excessive irritation and agitation.
• Without the "down" effect (feeling even more tired and fatigued after time).
• Improved cognitive function, reaction speed, concentration and focus.
• Guaranteed stimulation without added caffeine - can be consumed even before evening workout sessions.

Dedicated to people:

• Physically active, to increase performance during training/work,
• working mentally or learning, to maximize performance with ingredients that stimulate cognitive function,
• performing activities for long periods of time to reduce fatigue and tiredness, such as drivers during long car rides.

NITROGEN OXIDE

It is an inorganic chemical compound whose most well-known and remarkable function, in the context of sports physiology, is its role in controlling vasodilation of blood vessels. This leads to improved transport of blood, oxygen and a role in mitochondrial respiration, thereby enhancing training performance and efficiency (1). There are three pathways for nitric oxide synthesis:

1. By the enzyme NO synthase (arginine).
2. By providing a substrate for the production of arginine (citrulline).
3. By reducing nitrates in the mouth and stomach to nitric oxide (nitrate-containing plants).

ARGININA

Arginine is an amino acid that participates in the synthesis and bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO). As a result, it exhibits a vasodilatory effect, facilitating blood flow and thus oxygen and nutrients to working muscles (2,3). Arginine supplementation reduces levels of ammonia, lactate, fatty acids after exercise (4,5). It shows an increase in post-exercise glycerol levels, with improved carbohydrate oxidation and aerobic capacity, with potential benefits in endurance sports (6). Thus, arginine has been shown to affect various physiological and metabolic pathways that may improve athletic performance in both aerobic and anaerobic endurance (7). For example: A study of 56 soccer players found that supplementation with 2 grams of L-arginine daily for 45 days, significantly improved athletic performance compared to the placebo group (8). Another study found that those taking a drink containing 6 grams of L-arginine 1 hour before intense cycling exercise had significantly increased blood nitric oxide levels and were able to exercise longer, compared to the placebo group (9). Arginine supplements are also often readily used by the resistance training group (weightlifting, power triathlon,bodybuilding). The vasodilator and blood flow-enhancing effect not only has a beneficial effect by providing oxygen and improving faster metabolite utilization, but also accumulates large amounts of oxygenated blood in working muscles, resulting in a visual "muscle pump" effect, making muscles during training bigger, bulkier and more pumped up which is associated with greater motivation and training satisfaction and potential benefits leading to muscle hypertrophy (growth), also with possible positive effects on muscle strength. Arginine is converted to nitric oxide via the enzyme NO synthase (NOS). This reaction is a two-step process in which arginine reacts with oxygen to form nitric oxide and citrulline (10). The process works efficiently when sufficiently large amounts of arginine are present in the body. However, arginine is also involved in another metabolic pathway in which it binds to the enzyme arginase, where it reacts with water and is converted to ornithine and urea (7). Both reactions have similar substrate utilization rates. This means that half of the exogenous (supplemented) arginine, will be utilized by the NOS enzyme to produce nitric oxide, and the other half will be utilized by arginase (11). Thus, in order to maximize the formation and utilization of nitric oxide, it doesn't necessarily make sense to outdo just the amount of arginine per serving (a behavior often seen among sports supplement manufacturers). Indeed, at high single doses, arginine can cause unpleasant side effects, including bloating, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea (12). Consequently, other metabolic pathways leading to nitric oxide production can be exploited to increase its production.

CITRULINE

As a substrate in the production of nitric oxide L-citrulline can increase nitric oxide levels, although citrulline alone does not directly affect NO formation. L-arginine is the main precursor of nitric oxide, through the activity of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). L-citrulline is the second NO donor in the NOS-dependent pathway, as it can be converted to L-arginine (13). Thus, citrulline can act as a precursor for the synthesis of arginine, which is a substrate for nitric oxide synthases (NOS). NOS enzymes catalyze a complex enzymatic reaction leading to the formation of NO from L-arginine and molecular oxygen (14). The importance of L-citrulline as an ergogenic support stems from the fact that L-citrulline is absorbed in the gut to a much greater extent than L-arginine, and thus could itself be an effective way to increase extracellular levels of L-arginine. This hypothesis is supported by a study that found that oral citrulline supplementation increased plasma arginine levels more than arginine alone. The study showed that subjects who consumed 3 g of citrulline had higher plasma arginine levels and increased urinary concentrations of nitric oxide and cGMP metabolites, compared to those taking arginine solo (15). L-citrulline malate may also benefit ammonia elimination during recovery from exhaustive muscle exercise, and as an effective precursor to L-arginine and creatine. The ergogenic response of L-citrulline or L-arginine supplements depends on the subjects' level of training. Studies with untrained subjects have shown that NO donors can improve aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance. There is another alternative metabolic pathway, independent of NOS, the NO synthesis pathway, based on the simple reduction of nitrate and nitrite, that can increase nitric oxide levels in the body (16,17). The combination of arginine, citrulline and nitrates may therefore be the best(!) and most innovative(!) combination leading to efficient production and utilization of nitric oxide by athletes!

AZOTANS

Another metabolic pathway through which NO can be produced is the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway. Nitrates (NO3-) taken in with food can be converted to nitrites (NO2-). Once converted to nitrites, these molecules can be reduced to nitric oxide using nitrite reductase without worrying about side reactions that can reduce nitric oxide production (as with arginine due to arginase) (18). Nitrates are present in many foods and are found in high amounts in green leafy vegetables and beets. Studies show that dietary nitrates increase the production of nitric oxide (NO) in muscles, which triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to increased training performance (19-21). First and foremost, NO relaxes the smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels, allowing them to open wide to allow more blood to flow, which lowers blood pressure. As a result, the heart doesn't have to work as hard pumping the blood it needs, and this improves exercise performance. Interestingly, nitrate supplementation also reduces "oxygen cost"/oxygen debt during submaximal exercise and may improve tolerance and exercise performance. In one study, recreational cyclists drinking large doses of concentrated beet juice (a natural source of nitrates) consumed about 3 percent less oxygen - meaning less energy consumption during exercise tests than the placebo group (22). In 2018, the International Olympic Committee officially took a stand, recognizing that there is strong evidence of the benefits of nitrate supplementation (23). In a study by researchers at Aalborg University in Denmark (24), they subjected well-trained cyclists to a series of tests. First, each volunteer drank two doses of concentrated beet juice (enough to produce 12 mmol of nitrates) for a week, and then they performed 10-km time trials. The riders' average power output improved by about 5 watts, and they finished the 10-km race 1.6 percent faster after seven days of consuming beet juice. The authors concluded that these results provide evidence of a Chronic supplementation with high doses of nitrates improves the performance and efficiency of well-trained athletes. Thus, for untrained and recreationally exercising individuals, the nitrate supplement seemed to provide performance benefits. Separately, athletic athletes who already naturally produce large amounts of nitric oxide - training adaptation - should be considered, so the benefits of drinking beet juice will be only a temporary boost in them. However, it turns out that highly trained people simply need a higher dose of nitrates to get the right "boost," since their bodies already produce high levels of NO on their own.

SLAVIA

Studies on athletes indicate that sage improves cognitive function (working memory, reaction time and less fatigue and exertion). The positive effects were obtained in the pre-exercise state and persisted even with fatigue (29). The action of improving memory and concentration takes place by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (30,31). This metabolic pathway improves concentration, alertness, but takes place without stimulation of catecholamines such as epinephrine, norepinephrine or dopamine, so it does not stimulate like caffeine/coffee. This effect is particularly important in athletes who need to be permanently focused and make quick decisions, e.g. martial arts, all kinds of racing. The use of sage will therefore be expedient in both sports:

• Short-term and sprinting (speed and reaction time),

As well as in disciplines characterized by:

• long effort (long-distance running, cycling, etc.).