How insulin helps blood flow by turning on a special switch in blood vessels
Insulin-mediated skeletal muscle vasodilation is nitric oxide dependent. A novel action of insulin to increase nitric oxide release.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Insulin tells the body's blood vessels in the legs to open up more by using a chemical called nitric oxide. It does this by turning up the body's ability to make nitric oxide in the blood vessel lining, not by making the muscles in the vessel more sensitive to it.
Surprising Findings
Insulin increases nitric oxide’s role in blood flow from 20% to 40% — a 100% relative increase in NO dependence.
Most assume insulin’s effects are metabolic only; this shows it’s also a potent vascular signaling molecule, acting like a hormone that fine-tunes circulation in real time.
Practical Takeaways
Support both insulin sensitivity and nitric oxide production through exercise, leafy greens, and balanced meals to optimize blood flow and nutrient delivery.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Insulin tells the body's blood vessels in the legs to open up more by using a chemical called nitric oxide. It does this by turning up the body's ability to make nitric oxide in the blood vessel lining, not by making the muscles in the vessel more sensitive to it.
Surprising Findings
Insulin increases nitric oxide’s role in blood flow from 20% to 40% — a 100% relative increase in NO dependence.
Most assume insulin’s effects are metabolic only; this shows it’s also a potent vascular signaling molecule, acting like a hormone that fine-tunes circulation in real time.
Practical Takeaways
Support both insulin sensitivity and nitric oxide production through exercise, leafy greens, and balanced meals to optimize blood flow and nutrient delivery.
Publication
Journal
The Journal of clinical investigation
Year
1994
Authors
H. Steinberg, G. Brechtel, A. Johnson, N. Fineberg, A. Baron
Related Content
Claims (7)
When insulin is present, it helps blood vessels in muscles relax, letting more blood flow in. This brings more creatine to the muscle surface, where it can be absorbed.
In healthy adults, insulin doesn't make blood vessels relax more when nitric oxide is already at work — meaning insulin probably doesn't improve blood flow by boosting the muscle's response to nitric oxide.
Insulin helps blood vessels relax better when the signal comes from the vessel lining, but not when the signal bypasses it—meaning insulin probably boosts the lining's ability to release a blood-vessel-relaxing chemical called nitric oxide.
When insulin levels go up in healthy adults, it helps blood flow better in the legs by turning on a molecule called nitric oxide — and it works about twice as well as when insulin isn’t active.
When insulin goes up in healthy people — without changing blood sugar — blood flow to the legs nearly doubles, showing insulin itself can widen blood vessels.