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Nitric Oxide and Your Heart: Understanding NOS3 (rs891512) and How to Support Healthy Blood Flow

Nitric oxide is a small but powerful molecule that helps relax and widen blood vessels, supporting healthy blood flow and normal blood pressure. The NOS3 gene makes an enzyme called endothelial nitric oxide synthase or eNOS. eNOS produces nitric oxide in the cells that line your blood vessels. Variations in NOS3 can influence how efficiently eNOS works and may affect nitric oxide levels. That can change vascular tone and long-term cardiovascular risk, but genetics is only one part of the picture. Diet, physical activity, stress, sleep, smoking, alcohol, and other factors all play important roles.

How NOS3 rs891512 Can Influence Vascular Health

  • Reduced eNOS efficiency can lower nitric oxide production, which may make blood vessels less able to relax.
  • Lower nitric oxide is associated with higher blood pressure and a higher risk of coronary artery disease in some studies.
  • Having one or two copies of an effect allele changes risk incrementally; lifestyle and environment are major modifiers.

Practical Strategies to Support Nitric Oxide and Vascular Health

Regardless of genotype, these evidence-based habits help maintain healthy nitric oxide production and vascular function.

  • Eat nitrate-rich vegetables: spinach, arugula, beetroot, and lettuce. These foods provide dietary nitrates that can be converted to nitric oxide.
  • Load up on antioxidants: colorful fruits and vegetables (berries, citrus, bell peppers) protect nitric oxide from oxidative breakdown.
  • Include healthy fats: omega-3 rich fish, walnuts, and flaxseed support endothelial health.
  • Choose protein sources that support nitric oxide: lean meats, legumes, and nuts contain arginine precursors.
  • Consider L-citrulline and L-arginine supplements as options to support nitric oxide synthesis. Discuss with a healthcare provider before starting supplements.
  • Exercise regularly: aerobic and resistance training improve endothelial function and nitric oxide bioavailability.
  • Manage stress and get adequate sleep: chronic stress and poor sleep can reduce nitric oxide availability.
  • Avoid smoking and limit alcohol: both impair endothelial function and nitric oxide signaling.
  • Maintain a healthy weight and manage blood pressure, lipids, and blood sugar—these conditions affect endothelial health.

Helpful Tests and Monitoring

  • Home blood pressure monitoring to track response to lifestyle changes.
  • Clinical blood tests: fasting lipid panel, HbA1c or fasting glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) for inflammation, and basic metabolic panel as part of cardiovascular risk assessment.
  • When guided by a clinician, measures such as plasma nitrate/nitrite or endothelial function testing may be useful in research or specialty settings.

Genetic Interpretation: rs891512 (NOS3)

2 effect alleles (AA)

You carry two copies of the effect allele at rs891512. This genotype is associated with reduced efficiency of the eNOS enzyme and potentially lower nitric oxide production. Lower nitric oxide availability can make blood vessels less able to relax, which may contribute to higher blood pressure and a higher risk of coronary artery disease over time. These genetic effects are modest and interact with lifestyle and environment.

Actionable steps to consider

  • Emphasize nitrate-rich vegetables such as beetroot, spinach, and arugula several times per week.
  • Prioritize antioxidant-rich foods—berries, leafy greens, colorful vegetables—to limit oxidative breakdown of nitric oxide.
  • Include sources of omega-3 fats and dietary arginine precursors (nuts, seeds, legumes, lean meats).
  • Work with your clinician to assess blood pressure, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers and create a prevention plan.
  • Discuss the potential role of L-citrulline or L-arginine supplements with your healthcare provider if additional support is desired.
  • Adopt regular aerobic and resistance exercise, manage stress, avoid smoking, limit alcohol, and maintain healthy weight.
1 effect allele (AG)

You carry one copy of the effect allele at rs891512. This genotype may be associated with slightly reduced eNOS efficiency and modestly lower nitric oxide production compared with individuals without the effect allele. The impact is generally intermediate and strongly influenced by lifestyle factors.

Actionable steps to consider

  • Include nitrate-containing vegetables and focus on whole, colorful produce to support nitric oxide and reduce oxidative stress.
  • Keep a heart-healthy diet with omega-3s, fiber-rich whole grains, legumes, and lean proteins.
  • Stay active with routine aerobic exercise and include resistance training a few times per week.
  • Monitor blood pressure and routine cardiovascular labs with your clinician as part of preventive care.
  • Consider discussing supplements such as L-citrulline with a clinician if you want targeted support for nitric oxide synthesis.
  • Prioritize sleep, stress reduction, tobacco cessation, and moderate alcohol intake to preserve endothelial function.
0 effect alleles (GG)

You carry two copies of the non-effect allele at rs891512. This genotype is associated with typical eNOS function and standard nitric oxide production at this specific genetic site. While this genetic result does not suggest increased susceptibility from this variant, it does not guarantee protection—other genes and lifestyle factors matter.

Actionable steps to consider

  • Continue heart-healthy habits: a diet rich in nitrate vegetables and antioxidants, regular exercise, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
  • Maintain routine preventive care: blood pressure checks and periodic labs as recommended by your clinician.
  • Limit smoking and excessive alcohol and prioritize sleep and stress management to protect endothelial health.
  • If you have other risk factors, work with your clinician to tailor prevention and monitoring strategies.

Supplements and Nutrients to Discuss With Your Provider

  • L-citrulline or L-arginine: amino acid precursors to nitric oxide. These can increase nitric oxide availability for some people.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: support vascular health and reduce inflammation.
  • Antioxidants: vitamin C and polyphenol-rich extracts may protect nitric oxide from oxidative damage when used appropriately.
  • Beetroot or nitrate concentrates: dietary nitrate sources that can boost nitric oxide through the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway.

Final Notes and Important Disclaimer

This information is educational and intended to help you understand how variation at NOS3 rs891512 may relate to nitric oxide and vascular health. PlexusDx does not provide medical advice. Genetic results are one piece of your overall health picture and do not diagnose or predict disease with certainty. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to medications, starting supplements, or beginning a new exercise or health program. Your clinician can combine genetic information with your personal and family history, current symptoms, and clinical tests to make individualized recommendations.