The Vital Position of EGX and Nitric Oxide within the Physique

January 30, 2024

Envision a physique half huge sufficient to encircle the globe, but so skinny it is microscopic. Now, think about a tiny molecule — that earned scientists a Nobel Prize for its discovery as a biochemical messenger — optimizing blood stream, showing and disappearing in a blink. 

You’ve simply met the dynamic duo: the endothelial glycocalyx (EGX) and nitric oxide (NO) — the unsung heroes of vascular perform.

Your physique is a symphony, and the conductor orchestrating this harmonious masterpiece is your vascular system. It is your literal lifeline, however most individuals by no means give it some thought, regardless that ignoring it may end up in catastrophic well being points.

In the present day, I’m taking you on fairly a journey that will help you absolutely perceive the EGX, nitric oxide, and the vascular system. By the tip of this text, you will uncover important health-optimizing insights like:

• The explanation your vascular system acts as your physique’s maestro
• The pivotal position performed by the endothelial glycocalyx
• The importance of nitric oxide
• Tips on how to harness nitric oxide for optimum vascular (and general) well being

Able to dive in?

What Is the Endothelial Glycocalyx?

These two scientific pictures present cross-sections of a blood vessel, with the darkish black, hair-like projections displaying the endothelial glycocalyx.

The endothelial glycocalyx (EGX) is a dynamic, responsive construction that acts as the primary line of protection on your endothelium — a big organ important for preserving your blood flowing. The EGX is created from a fragile mesh of proteins and sugars. Microscopically skinny, it determines what will get into your endothelium and stays within the bloodstream. Which means the vitamins you devour attain their vacation spot whereas preserving dangerous substances at bay. It additionally performs a vital position in blood clotting, responding to vascular insults, and sustaining vessel well being.

Now right here’s what you’ll want to know from a sensible viewpoint: The EGX, regardless of its resilience, is weak.

It’s all too straightforward to emphasize this important construction, and that may result in a cascade of well being points. The difficulty is, you’ll be able to’t really feel in case your EGX goes down. You’ll solely learn about it whenever you run into severe issues along with your cardiovascular well being. 

Nonetheless, whenever you take correct care of this important construction, you’ll be able to sit up for:

• Enhancing nutrient supply from the meals you eat and the dietary supplements you spend money on
• Enhancing blood circulation — take into consideration health and your sexual life
• Fortifying your pure defenses in opposition to illness

Your Vascular System: A Fast Tour

On this part:

• Uncover extra in regards to the arteries, veins, and microvasculature
• Meet the EGX and uncover the way it works
• Perceive why the EGX issues

To understand how essential this minuscule construction is, you first must take inventory of the vascular system itself. The organs, perform, and motion in your physique rely on the blood flowing round it, which depends on a wholesome EGX. 

I’ll begin with the arteries and veins, which is what involves thoughts for most individuals once they consider their vascular system. 

• Arteries are the freeways of your blood’s transport system. They do the vital job of transporting oxygen-rich blood from the guts to numerous physique tissues. This course of is pivotal for delivering vitamins and sustaining blood stress. 
• Veins return deoxygenated blood to the guts (sans pulmonary veins, which carry oxygenated blood). Veins are much less muscular than arteries. A novel characteristic of veins, notably within the extremities, is the presence of valves. These valves are extremely essential, as a result of they stop the backflow of blood, guaranteeing that all of it heads in a single path towards the guts.

Image your arteries because the powerhouse offensive workforce, delivering that valuable, oxygenated blood precisely the place it must be. Now, your veins? They’re the line of defense, diligently sending deoxygenated blood again to the guts, guaranteeing the entire cycle stays in good concord. 

However here is the kicker — neither workforce likes disruptions, that means it is ridiculously straightforward to mess along with your arteries. Indulging in that second piece of cake or the fallacious sorts of fat, sitting on the sofa for too lengthy, puffing away on cigarettes, and letting stress run wild are all villains in artery well being. 

But, as I discussed beforehand, inside each artery and each vein, is the EGX — the final word MVP. I’ll be taking a more in-depth have a look at that in a minute, however first, let’s take a deeper dive into the vascular system. 

Your 60,000-Mile-Lengthy Vascular System

The overall community of all blood vessels in your physique extends an astonishing 60,000 miles — a distance that is the same as greater than two journeys across the Earth.

Take into consideration your microvasculature as tiny roots rising intuitively within the areas the place extra oxygen and vitamins are wanted. 

Comprising the tiniest blood vessels discovered all through your muscle groups, tissues, and organs, notably in your eyes, kidneys, mind, sexual organs, and extremities, this intricate community undergoes fixed renewal via angiogenesis, the place new blood vessels kind and outdated ones fade away. This perpetual cycle represents a significant alternate between your bloodstream and everything of your physique. Notably, this course of proves invaluable in therapeutic tissue accidents and responding to low oxygen ranges.

Each blood vessel within the physique — out of your arteries to your microvasculature — has a single-cell lining referred to as the endothelium which is the ultimate level of management for the alternate of drugs between the blood and the remainder of the physique. 

On prime of the endothelium lies the vascular system’s hero, the EGX.  

The Physique’s Bouncer: Your EGX

The endothelial glycocalyx is that blue layer (#1) between your endothelial cells (#2) and the flowing blood throughout the vessel.

The EGX is a skinny, delicate, mesh-like layer with a variable thickness sometimes starting from 0.5 to five micrometers. It is a complicated matrix composed of the next proteins and carbohydrates: 

• Glycoproteins: Glycoproteins, like syndecans and glypicans, are molecules combining each carbohydrates and proteins.
• Proteoglycans: Proteoglycans are core proteins connected to glycosaminoglycan chains (GAGs) akin to heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid.

Image a dense, gel-like layer sitting between the flowing blood and the internal wall of the blood vessels. The EGX regulates the stream of blood via these vessels, together with the microvasculature. 

So far as your vascular well being is worried, the EGX is the place the motion begins, however it serves a number of important performs, akin to: 

• Barrier perform: The EGX regulates the passage of stuff that’s in your blood via to the endothelium and onwards into your tissues. It’s a semi-permeable barrier, that means that it lets some issues in whereas preserving others out. 
• Anticoagulant help: The EGX homes some essential molecules that help a wholesome response to blood clotting.
• Antioxidant storage: It’s possible you’ll consider antioxidants as one thing you get from meals or dietary supplements. Do you know your physique produces its personal antioxidants to struggle free radical injury? Some of the essential antioxidants is superoxide dismutase (SOD), which lives proper there in your EGX.
• Nitric oxide: This can be a massive one. There’s a mesmerizing course of whereby the EGX senses adjustments within the stream of blood, and responds by triggering the manufacturing of nitric oxide. In a second, I’ll clarify simply how essential that tiny molecule is on your on a regular basis well being. 

Let’s discover a number of of those EGX features extra deeply for a more in-depth look into why the EGX is significant for optimum well being.

The “Good Barrier”

As I’ve talked about, the EGX features like an clever sieve. It permits the precise molecules via whereas preserving others within the bloodstream.

Among the stuff that will get held off are dangerous microorganisms and toxins that could be swept alongside by your blood. There are additionally proteins within the blood that haven’t any enterprise passing via the endothelium into your tissues. The EGX blocks them, too. On the constructive facet, the EGX permits the oxygen and vitamins which can be important for the lifetime of your organs and tissues. You’ll have heard of leaky intestine — the EGX helps stop leaky blood vessels.

The visitors via the EGX is two-way, so it additionally permits your physique to launch metabolic waste into the bloodstream the place it may be carried onward to be processed and eradicated — for instance, CO₂, which is continually produced by your physique’s metabolism and must be launched.

The blue strains symbolize the endothelial glycocalyx. Within the prime picture, a wholesome glycocalyx is preserving blood flowing. Within the backside picture, the glycocalyx is shedding and endothelial dysfunction is current.

I hope you’re starting to see simply how essential the EGX is on your well being. To find extra insights in regards to the EGX, try my podcast with heart specialist Jack Wolfson. 

The EGX and the Antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)

I’ve talked about that the EGX hosts SOD. This highly effective enzyme converts a free radical referred to as superoxide into much less dangerous substances. The upshot is a discount in oxidative stress, offering vital safety on your endothelial cells. 

SOD additionally preserves nitric oxide availability. You’ll see quickly sufficient how vital NO is on your well being and why the presence of SOD in your glycocalyx is a gigantic deal.  

A Greater Image: How the EGX Performs Out in Your Complete Physique

So, what does all this discuss in regards to the EGX imply on a sensible degree? 

Let’s break it down on a number of fronts:

• Coronary heart well being: Like each organ, the guts is supported by a large community of tiny blood vessels. The well being of this community is pivotal in guaranteeing that the guts receives the required vitamins and oxygen whereas effectively eradicating waste merchandise. Uncover extra in regards to the coronary heart in my podcast with Dr. Tom Cowan. Additionally, be sure you hear my wide-ranging dialog on coronary heart illness with Stephen Hussey.
• Mind well being: You gained’t be stunned to be taught that the EGX performs a significant position in mind well being. Mind microvasculature is essential for neuronal perform because it delivers oxygen and important vitamins to mind cells. On the identical time, it effectively clears metabolic byproducts and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the mind, guaranteeing a clear and wholesome atmosphere for neurons that is freed from toxins, pathogens, and undesirable intruders. 
• Kidney Well being: Your kidneys, dependent upon a wholesome vascular system, are the guardians of wholesome blood, filtering about 50 gallons a day. In addition they regulate your blood stress, so saying your life relies on wholesome kidneys isn’t any exaggeration. The kidney microvasculature additionally manages your blood stress via a mechanism referred to as RAAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system). The microvasculature within the kidneys is crucial for filtration, nutrient reabsorption, waste secretion, and blood stress regulation. 
• Sexual Well being: For males, erections happen when the penile microvasculature dilates, that means the blood vessels widen to permit elevated blood stream. The well being of the endothelium, the single-cell inside wall of the blood vessels, is crucial in sustaining this perform. The endothelium, in flip, wants a sturdy EGX. Ladies expertise microvasculature’s significance as clitoral and vaginal blood stream, which will increase throughout arousal. This results in clitoral erection and it additionally permits vaginal lubrication, each key for sexual arousal and cozy intercourse. On the flip facet, challenges with microvasculature are intently linked to sexual issues and might point out severe well being points.

Clearly, microvasculature is crucial on your coronary heart, mind, kidneys, and sexual well being — and people are only a handful of essential examples.

Now, let’s swap gears and talk about one among my favourite subjects: nitric oxide (NO). This actually deserves a complete article of its personal, however let’s check out the necessities. 

Nitric Oxide — The Mighty Molecule for Vascular Well being

On this part:

• Uncover the important thing roles of nitric oxide (NO)
• Perceive how your physique produces NO
• How NO connects to the EGX
• What occurs when NO is in hassle

In addition to offering a “sensible barrier” between the flowing blood and the remainder of your physique, the EGX triggers the manufacturing of nitric oxide, a gasoline that’s generated after which dissipates throughout the blood vessels. NO performs a really decisive position in all types of physiological processes in your physique, with implications for vascular well being, neurological perform, immune response, and extra. 

Your physique is in fixed dialog with itself, and you would consider NO as a significant a part of the messaging community making that potential. 

Referred to as a “signaling molecule,” NO carries messages across the physique, triggering processes to occur as wanted. 

Listed here are a few of the key roles of NO:

1. Vasodilation: NO relaxes clean muscle groups — the tiny muscle groups surrounding your arteries and arterioles. This results in the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation), enabling wholesome blood stream. 
2. Blood stress regulation: By modulating vascular tone — the diploma of constriction or dilation of blood vessels — NO is crucial to sustaining regular blood stress.
3. Neurotransmission: Up there in your mind, NO serves as a neurotransmitter, and it’s essential for a variety of neural processes, together with reminiscence, studying, and ache notion.
4. Response to vascular insults: NO is a vital participant in vascular wall transforming, thrombosis, and enzymatic manufacturing.

As for the vascular system itself, NO is essential for sustaining the well being of the endothelium, the internal lining of blood vessels. You’ll have heard of “stiffening of the arteries” — which is as horrible because it sounds. NO helps hold your blood vessels elastic, which is crucial for responsive blood stream and wholesome variations in blood stress. NO additionally improves blood stream to muscle groups once they’re arduous at work. And, as many individuals now acknowledge, NO is vital for sexual well being due to its position in widening the vessels to permit extra blood to stream. 

Most likely much less well known, NO ranges have essential implications for growing old as a result of age-related vascular adjustments are a key issue for longevity and healthspan.

When NO Is in Bother

The difficulty with NO is its extremely temporary lifespan, simply two to 6 milliseconds. NO’s brief lifespan makes positive its actions are extremely localized, so that you get focused vascular responses wherever they’re wanted. That is essential for the fast adjustment of blood vessel diameter since you want a dynamic response to altering oxygen and nutrient calls for in numerous physique components. 

The now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t nature of NO has penalties. 

It means your physique wants to take care of continuous manufacturing. If that falters, you’ll begin shedding all the advantages of nice blood stream. 

There’s one other downside. NO manufacturing decreases with age — dramatically. That’s due to the decline in that enzyme I discussed earlier: endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). 

In case you’re going to handle the vascular well being concern of nitric oxide manufacturing successfully, you’ll want to perceive how NO is produced to optimize its availability. It seems that nitric oxide is generated in your physique via a number of pathways. 

PATHWAY 1: ENDOTHELIAL NO

NO is produced within the endothelium in response to the shear stress of flowing blood, a mechanical perform triggered by the EGX. A number of enzymes become involved, the principal being endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This pathway produces nitric oxide proper within the blood vessels.

Now, right here’s an essential and little-known level to notice: the endothelial pathway of NO manufacturing relies on one other character, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which protects the traditional functioning of eNOS. H2S, like NO, additionally serves as a messenger molecule and vasodilator.   

PATHWAY 2: DIETARY NO

The second pathway for NO manufacturing takes place within the mouth and intestine. It’s referred to as the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway, which follows these steps:

1. All of it begins whenever you devour inorganic nitrate, which is generally present in beets and inexperienced leafy greens.  
2. Circulating nitrate is transported into the saliva gland and concentrated within the saliva. 
3. When it will get secreted within the mouth, nitrate within the saliva is diminished by particular micro organism to nitrite. 
4. Nitrates within the abdomen will also be transformed to nitrite.
5. As soon as within the abdomen, a part of the nitrite is chemically diminished to nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is produced in numerous methods by completely different components of the physique, on demand. Since nitric oxide is a really short-lived gaseous molecule, a number of redundant pathways are a wholesome adaptation to make sure nitric oxide is accessible when and the place it’s wanted.

By the way in which, one implication is that you’ll want to be careful for the wholesome micro organism in your mouth. Remember that mouthwash kills these micro organism, interfering along with your NO manufacturing. Untreated periodontal illness additionally raises vascular threat.

The endothelial glycocalyx and nitric oxide reveal that the vascular system is a miracle of interacting elements and processes, working all day and evening to maintain you alive and nicely.

However not with out its challenges, which I’ll cowl one after the other. 

The Drawback: Your EGX Is as Fragile as It Is Astonishing 

Nearly each downside within the vascular system — whether or not within the arteries, veins, or microvasculature — begins with the EGX. 

As two researchers put it: “Injury to the glycocalyx precedes vascular pathology.”

When it’s underneath assault, the EGX begins shedding its elements into the bloodstream. That protecting barrier collapses and the endothelial cells are immediately uncovered to the flowing blood, with all its contents good and unhealthy. That is precisely what you need to keep away from. 

A number of elements, together with inner sources throughout the physique, exterior exposures, and private behaviors, can contribute to the degradation of the EGX.

• Oxidative stress: Extra reactive oxygen species, that are unstable molecules that may injury cells, hurt the elements of the EGX.
• Unstable blood sugar ranges and extra salt: Having an excessive amount of glucose in your blood will pace up the deterioration of the EGX, as will elevated sodium ranges.
• Ldl cholesterol: Excessive ranges of low-density lipoprotein (LDL — also called “unhealthy ldl cholesterol”) can hurt the EGX, particularly when it’s oxidized. 
• Hypertension: The mechanical stress from hypertension can weaken the EGX.
• Smoking: Toxins from tobacco immediately impair the integrity of the EGX.
• Sedentary life-style: Sitting round an excessive amount of may have a unfavorable impact on blood stream and that may cut back the protecting mechanisms of the EGX.
• Getting older: The pure growing old course of diminishes the robustness of this protecting layer, particularly if you happen to’re doing nothing to counter these results.

The Results of a Compromised EGX

With no wholesome EGX, there are penalties you completely need to keep away from, akin to:

• Leakage and infiltration: Blood vessels which have develop into extra permeable can result in the leakage and infiltration of dangerous substances.
• Lack of NO advantages: After shedding one among your key pathways to NO manufacturing, you might not obtain all the advantages of NO, together with its regulation of blood stress and wholesome blood stream.
• Compromised supply of blood, oxygen, and vitamins: The compromised supply of blood, oxygen, and vitamins to tissues can influence organ perform.
• Interference with anticoagulant properties: Interference with the anticoagulant properties of the glycocalyx provides to your threat profile.

If you have a look at the EGX, you’ll want to know what’s at stake when it will get out of whack. 

Methods for Speedy Vascular Fortification: Begin In the present day 

So, what are you able to do to win your battle with the vascular system? 

You have to know the place you’re to get the place you need to go. In different phrases, you’ll want to run the checks that can present you the present situation of your vascular system. You’ll discover some fascinating info on this in my podcast with Dr. Ram Dandillaya.

At first, life-style issues. Your vascular system is tremendously attentive to what you eat, how you progress (or don’t), and the stress you carry. So, even when these ideas sound acquainted, they bear repeating:

1. Nutritious diet: 
   • Loads of fruits, greens, entire grains, lean proteins, and wholesome fat will provide you with the foundations of excellent vascular well being. 
   • Consuming beets and leafy inexperienced greens is particularly useful as a result of they comprise these inorganic nitrates that your physique can flip into nitric oxide. 
   • Different good meals are those which can be excessive in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, and people wealthy in antioxidants, like berries. 
   • You need to restrict salt as a result of an excessive amount of of it may well upset your blood stress.
   • Keep hydrated.
2. Common train: You already know that common bodily exercise is vital to your well being. However now you understand why it’s so essential to your vascular system. Shifting your physique retains your arteries versatile, your blood flowing via your veins, your EGX completely satisfied, and your NO manufacturing nearer to perfect ranges. 
3. No smoking: In case you’re nonetheless caught on this, now’s the time to do no matter it takes to cease. There are penalties to smoking that everybody is aware of about, however the influence on the vascular system could also be simply as essential. In case you love your physique, toss the cigarettes. 
4. Blood stress: Sustaining wholesome blood stress is essential as a result of when it turns into imbalanced, it is not solely a consequence of poor vascular well being but in addition triggers a vicious cycle of additional vascular points. Due to this fact, that ought to be one other massive precedence.
5. Restrict alcohol: Now you could have a brand new purpose to maintain this one in test — liquor doesn’t do your blood stress or the well being of your EGX any good. 
6. Handle stress: Stress is likely one of the elements that may injury your EGX. So select your favourite methods to relax and let your thoughts relaxation. With regards to preserving stress in test, hearken to the podcast I did on this matter with Dr. Jay T. Wiles.
7. Sleep nicely: Good sleep hygiene is vital on your general well being, and particularly for sustaining a versatile, wholesome vascular system. 
8. Purple mild: That is one other therapy that may profit cardiovascular well being. It has been proven to extend adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in coronary heart tissue. ATP is named the “power forex” of human cells. In a single examine with mice, purple mild confirmed a really vital influence on mortality from coronary heart illness. Purple mild can also be one among many spectacular anti-aging options I talk about in my podcast with Dr. Darshan Shah.

Name within the Reinforcements: Dietary Dietary supplements

Even if you happen to’ve nailed these life-style tweaks — sudden stresses, lurking pathogens, genetic quirks, environmental toxins, and the relentless march of time can nonetheless throw you a curveball. 

That is the place a bit of additional help turns out to be useful to assist your physique carry out at its peak.

Now, I’ve acquired two powerhouse picks for EGX and nitric oxide help, each from the sensible minds at Calroy. These guys are all about attending to the foundation of human well being, as Dr. Jack Wolfson and I mentioned in our enlightening podcast chat on sustaining a wholesome coronary heart.

Arterosil HP for the EGX

First up, Arterosil HP — my every day go-to for EGX help*. 

Arterosil HP is my most popular endothelial glycocalyx help,* partly as a consequence of its distinctive proprietary extract of rhamnan sulfate from the uncommon inexperienced seaweed Monostroma nitidum.

Arterosil HP incorporates MonitumRSTM, which is Calory’s proprietary extract of rhamnan sulfate that they get from a uncommon inexperienced seaweed referred to as Monostroma nitidum. Rhamnan sulfate has been studied rather a lot for its advantages to cardiovascular well being. There’s additionally been a selected in vitro examine of MonitumRS by an impartial third-party laboratory. Certain sufficient, scientists confirmed that the extract immediately protects and restores the EGX.† 

Particularly, researchers discovered that MonitumRS restored glucose-damaged human EGX cells as much as 103.8% of their pre-damaged state, and it pulled this off in lower than 24 hours†. 

Since Calroy launched Arterosil HP, different glycocalyx dietary dietary supplements have come available on the market. However I’ve but to see one among them with this caliber of supporting proof: direct testing of the core ingredient on residing, human endothelial glycocalyx cells.†

Along with MonitumRS, Arterosil HP incorporates a mix of fruit, vegetable, and inexperienced tea extracts, all included for his or her antioxidant properties to enhance the advantages of MonitumRS by combating oxidative stress. 

I’ve realized that tens of millions of {dollars} and over 20 years of R&D went into creating Arterosil HP, and I can guarantee you it’s protected to devour (so long as you aren’t allergic to any of the substances, after all). With 1000’s of individuals utilizing the complement, nobody has reported contraindications or severe unwanted side effects.

Vascanox HP

Subsequent up is Vascanox HP.

Vascanox HP incorporates a next-generation components for nitric oxide help,* together with black garlic extract.

Calroy actually cracked the code with this product. Till now, nobody may determine find out how to present nitric oxide help as and when the physique wants it for quite a lot of hours at a time. Vascanox HP does simply that — it demonstrates elevated nitric oxide for as much as 24 hours*††.

If you wish to be a functioning human, your physique all the time wants optimum blood stream, not only for a number of hours a day. Vascanox HP is the primary NO complement I’ve seen that has been proven to help wholesome ranges of NO for as much as 24 hours††. It does this with a particular formulation it incorporates referred to as Noxa24. 

You’ll recall that NO is produced within the physique via a number of pathways. One of many strengths of Vascanox HP is that it addresses a number of pathways, with synergistic results*. 

Now let’s take a second to recall the primary of those pathways. The endothelial pathway entails one other signaling molecule, which can transform as essential as NO. That’s hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The 2 work in tandem, and also you don’t get optimum manufacturing of NO with out satisfactory H2S. The Noxa24 formulation in Vascanox HP is exclusive as a result of it helps the pure manufacturing of H2S together with NO, in order that they each work collectively for sustained cardiovascular well being*.

By the way in which, in case you’re skeptical (and you have to be about any uncommon claims) you’ll be able to check the effectiveness of Vascanox HP very simply. 

There are nitric oxide salivary strips you’ll be able to place in your mouth that instantly present the presence or absence of enough NO in your physique. Check earlier than and a pair of hours after taking your nitric oxide product, and 24 hours later.

Recap: What You Must Bear in mind 

Alright, my good friend, hats off to you! You have simply navigated a marathon via the system you must deal with like gold — your vascular system. This is not only a part-time gig; it is your lifeline, 24/7, with no breaks. You are now wielding extra data about it than the typical Joe, and guess what? A few of this info is sort of a hidden treasure (even within the medical realm). 

So, now what?

Armed with this powerhouse of data, you are not only a spectator — you are within the recreation. Protect yourself in opposition to future hurdles and, even higher, elevate your recreation each bodily and mentally. 

How? By giving your vascular system the like it deserves. Now you are within the know — from the ideas of your toes to the crown of your head, a river of wholesome blood stream is your golden ticket to a thriving, prolonged life.

†As demonstrated in an impartial third-party laboratory in vitro examine.

††As measured by saliva NO check strips in an open-label printed examine.