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  Discussion on Nitric Oxide: An Emerging Miracle Molecule
Author Message
Member:
Pbauer

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 9:46 pm:

Hi,
We almost hate to post, knowing the controversy in new treatments...but, here we go...

Topper, our three year old Quarter Horse gelding, had had a bout with laminitis last year. We asked our vet if there was anything to help prevent another episode, and help the overall condition of his hooves.. other than our routine care, feed.. etcetera. He suggested, Hemo-Flo: Nitric Oxide Enhancer. Checked it out,and started, Topper, on it; has been on it for two months

It was exciting to see an article in the Horse Journal, May 2004 issue stating:
Once in a while a discovery is made that changes the face of medicine forever; Bacteria as a cause of infections, effective anesthetics, penicillin and the first vaccine are examples. In 1998, Americans Rovert F. Furchgott, Louis J. Ignarro and Ferid Murad earned the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology for their work on the functions of nitric oxide in the body. We believe this is another of those scientific milestones.

Research is driving home the lesson that the difference between health and disease at the most basic level is about balance between body systems. It's clear that the most effective treatments are going to be those that work to restore that balance.

Nitric Oxide Helps:
*Keep blood vessels open and the blood flowing smoothly.
*The uptake of oxygen by hemoglobin and the delivery of oxygen at the tissue level.
*Signal molecules in the nervous system.
*Destroy invading microorganisms by the immune system.
*Maintain skeletal-muscle sensitivity to insulin.
*The release of insulin from the pancreas.
*The release of "growth factors," local hormones responsible for the growth of all tissues and healing after injuries.
*In the control of fluid and electrolyte balance by the kidney.
*Activate immune-system T cells.
*Central-nervous-system control of movement.
*Ovulation and the penetration of egg by the sperm.
*Control of tone in the intestinal tract.
*Protect the lining of the stomach from ulcer formation.

Nitric Oxide appears to be a cutting-edge find
in treatment of arthritis, EPM, laminitis, heaves and more... END

The article mentions the Nitric Oxide Society.There is a wealth of information on their website: www.nitricoxide.ws/

Kidder, will start taking it, the first part of May.

Sincerely,
Paul and Tonya



Member:
Maureane

Posted on Thursday, Apr 29, 2004 - 2:31 am:

I am sure that nitric oxide does all of the things you suggest. However, the nitric oxide has to be made in the right vascular bed at the right time. Thus, I am sceptical that a supplement will do this. It may - but some supporting data would be nice.

Nitric oxide seems to be accepted as a contributor to the development of laminitis, since nitroglycerin patches (a source of nitric oxide) are sometimes used on the hooves to try to prevent laminitis in very high risk situations.

Has anyone yet suggested giving Viagra to laminitic horses?

Cheers,

Maureane
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 29, 2004 - 8:27 am:

Maureane is exactly right. Nitiric oxide is a important molecule in metabolism that we are just beginning to understand its many roles. This is not the same as it being the next miracle cure. So far its use in founder in the form of nitroglycerine has been a bit disappointing clinically so we will have to wait.

Supplements purported to restore nitric oxide balance are without any scientific or medical basis that I can find and it is really important to understand NO can be cytotoxic in excess.
DrO
Member:
Pbauer

Posted on Thursday, Apr 29, 2004 - 9:21 pm:

Hi, Dr.O and Maureane,
Thank you for your input. Topper, is doing really well...we'll keep you posted.
Sincerely,
Paul and Tonya
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 30, 2004 - 8:25 am:

I appreciate your experiences Tonya. But you should know I follow our recommendations in the article on founder and our founders do really well without the use of a unproven, expensive supplement. Taken off the site you reference above is this quote from a scientifc paper:

Nitric oxide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: Implications for Neurodegeneration
Stewart, VC, Heales, JR. Free Rad Biol Med 34:287-303 (03)
Excessive generation of nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders. Damage to the mitochondrial electron transport chain has also been implicated in these disorders. NO and its toxic metabolite peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) can inhibit the mitochondrial respiratory chain, leading to energy failure and ultimately cell death.
DrO
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