Nitrosigine Arginine Silicate Shows Cognitive Health Benefits in New Study

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Researchers at the University of Miami have found that Nitrosigine, an inositol-stabilized arginine silicate ingredient from Nutrition 21 (Purchase, NY), may improve cognitive performance in healthy adult men. Participants supplementing with the ingredient for both short periods (3 days) and longer periods (14 days) performed better on the Trail Making Test (TMT) part B than a placebo group.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study included adult men aged 18–35, with the study consisting of two separate parts. In the first trial, 11 men with a history of moderate exercise routines were randomized to consume either a placebo or 1500 mg of Nitrosigine per day for 14 days, with a seven-day washout period separating the administrations. The second trial included 16 men with limited exercise routines who were randomized to consume either 1500 mg/day of Nitrosigine or a placebo for 3 days.

In both parts of the study, subjects were tested using TMT parts A and B at baseline, 10–15 minutes post-treatment on the first day of the administration period, and pre-treatment on the final day of the administration period. TMT A asks participants to connect an ascending sequence of 25 numbers, while TMT B involves connecting an alternating sequence of 25 numbers and letters. Researchers explained that the TMT “is one of the most widely-used instruments in neuropsychological assessment as an indicator of cognitive processing speed and executive functioning.”

In the 14-day study, participant TMT-B times decreased by a significant 28% in the Nitrosigine group over 14 days compared to baseline. And in the 3-day study, participant TMT-B times decreased by a significant 33% for Nitrosigine compared to placebo in the first ten minutes. Also in the shorter study, test times decreased by a significant 35% for the Nitrosigine group after 3 days of dosing compared to placebo. Faster TMT-B times are associated with “enhanced visual search, speed of processing, mental flexibility, and executive functions under performance demands,” researchers explained. There were not significant changes to TMT-A times in either study.

“Nitrosigine led to a significant decrease in TMT-B time compared to placebo, with an effect size of d = 0.80, which shows the strength of the effect to be considerable,” researchers concluded. “Improvement in TMT B test times suggests improved complex processing speed in subjects treated with ASI. Improved mental flexibility is an area of potential athletic enhancement which is deserving of further research.”

Read more:

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Arginine Silicate Compound May Enhance Cognitive Function

Brain Health and Sports Nutrition Team Up in Dietary Supplements

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com

References:

Kalman D et al., “Randomized prospective double-blind studies to evaluate the cognitive effects of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate in healthy physically active adults,” Nutrients, vol. 8, no. 11 (November 2016): E736