Nitrosative stress means the excessive production of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and its derivatives, peroxynitrite, nitrotyrosine and nitrophenyl acetic acid.

Nitrogen monoxide (NO) is produced by almost all of an organism’s cells and, if present in normal quantities, performs important bodily functions. Certain circumstances like reactions to infection, serious injuries or accidents, stress caused by chemical substances, heavy metals or medications, emotional or physical stress or taking large amounts of nitrites or nitrates with nutrition can result in the excessive production of NO. Such large amounts of nitrogen monoxide inhibit the cells’ energy generation, which mainly results in damage to cells which consume a lot of energy, such as nerve cells, the muscles of the heart, the other muscles and the cells of the immune system.

Nitrosative stress has far-reaching consequences: the chronic energy deficit leads to the premature death of the affected cells; the detoxification system, and especially the glutathione metabolism, is impaired, which in turn results in an accumulation of harmful products such as oxidised LDL or homocysteine. The energy deficit results in cholesterol metabolism and therefore the impairment of synthesis of steroidal hormones. Vitamin B12 is consumed in excessive quantities because it is an NO scavenger; this results in a vitamin B12 deficiency with all the attendant effects. Furthermore, the impact on tyrosine- and tryptophan metabolism leads to a disruption in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, and – because large quantities of NO promote infection – oxidative stress.

These complex functional disorders cause illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorders and chronic infections. The typical symptom is extreme physical and emotional fatigue.