Peat Archive

Ray Peat was critical of the popular promotion of nitric oxide (NO) as beneficial. While NO was named 'Molecule of the Year' in 1992 for its vasodilatory effects, Peat documented extensive evidence that NO inhibits mitochondrial respiration (specifically cytochrome c oxidase), promotes inflammation, contributes to tissue damage, and combines with superoxide to form the highly destructive peroxynitrite. He viewed the promotion of NO-boosting supplements as another case of pharmaceutical marketing masquerading as science.

Peat noted that the vasodilation from NO comes at the cost of reduced cellular energy production, and that healthier vasodilation can be achieved through CO2, magnesium, and thyroid optimization without the mitochondrial damage.