Nitric Oxide: The Secret to Unlocking a Better Gut, Brain, and Immunity Relationship Part 2

Beth Shirley is back with the second part of the Nitric Oxide story – if you missed part 1 you may want to start there.

Back to NO’s role in the body. Also functioning as an immunomodulator, NO plays an essential in our immune response. NO’s role in vasodilation has impact on blood flow - which allows oxygen, glucose, nutrients, immune and healing cellular components to be effectively transported to the cells and tissues and, just as importantly, carry away cellular debris. NO is our first line defense against bacteria, virus, fungi and all pathogens.

The deficiency of NO and the resulting endothelial dysfunction is also a precursor to morbid conditions. Oxidative stress, brought on by multiple things, including chronic infections, inflammation, pollution, glyphosate, EMF exposure, adds an inflammatory layer and further compromises our immune systems. By properly supporting the body’s ability to create NO through the dietary nitrate pathway, oxidative stress is reduced through a downregulation of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, interleukins and PAF. This is great news for our immunity, and for individuals facing morbid conditions (or co-morbidities, given the current viral climate).

Since approximately 70-80% of our immune system is located in our gut, gut health is key in supporting the immune response of the gut/brain/immune connection. NO plays a huge role in a healthy mucus membrane layer, our first line of defense. Mast cells, which are effectors of the gut/brain/immune and line all mucus membranes, translate stress signals into release of neurotransmitters and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Nitrites and NO regulate the activity of the mast cells by downregulating the release of inflammatory molecules and Reactive Oxygen Species - free radicals. Nitrates alone, before conversion into Nitric Oxide, also play a significant role in intestinal health. Nitrates down-regulate the inflammatory response, support and rebuild healthy microbiomes, prevent dysbiosis, prevents and repairs leaky gut, modulate immune and oncological pathways and promote a healthy gut/brain/immune axis.

Now, let’s examine the role of the brain in the axis. NO plays an integral part in brain and cognitive health. Even though the brain is only 2% of our body weight, it consumes 25% of our body’s oxygen requirement. The brain needs to be able to make 20 times more NO than the entire vasculature to ensure healthy circulation and microcirculation. Impairment of blood flow increases neurodegeneration. Stress, no matter if it is physical, mental or emotional, decreases our ability to make NO as well as making what NO that is there not bioavailable to do all the good things it needs to do.  Stress increases cortisol which inhibits and uncouples iNOS (inducible NOS – our defense) and eNOS (endothelial NOS – governs circulation and microcirculation). Our circadian rhythm is NO mediated and stress and NO deficiency destroys our sleep patterns.

Optimizing NO during inflammation and neuroinflammation will support neurogenesis and brain health. NO helps block and down-regulate the cytokine storm, decrease mast cell degranulation, decreases myeloperoxidase activity, limits lipid peroxidation, rebalance T cells while increasing the T reg cells, restores mitochondrial function and biogenesis, improves synaptic plasticity and supports tight junction proteins. Repair of damaged cells is essential for recovery.

Nowadays, we have a perfect storm for low NO with high oxidative stress and inflammation playing a role in every single chronic issue. Optimizing NO by supporting the nitrate/nitrite/NO pathway by increasing nitrate rich veggies (arugula, spinach, butter lettuce, bok choy, celery, beets) &/or taking a clinically proven nitrate supplement can increase NO directly and is able to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation.

Beth Shirley, RPh, CCN

Beth Shirley, RPh, CCN, developed an expertise as a pharmacist and certified clinical nutritionist during a 40+ year career. She has been a pioneer at the cutting edge of the evolution of what has now come to be known as integrative pharmacy… the junction between traditional pharmacy and the clinical use of nutritional supplementation. 

Since 2009, Beth has spent time working with some of the leading thought leaders in the world of nitric oxide research and through this has developed and in-depth knowledge on the topic and its potential applications in patient care.

She is currently the Executive Director of the Scientific Advisory Board at Berkeley Life. 

Want to learn even more?  Listen to episodes 75 and 111 of the Biohacking Superhuman Performance podcast on your favorite podcast app!

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