Home Ingredients Oxystorm® (Red Spinach Nitrate)
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Oxystorm® (Red Spinach Nitrate)

Amaranthus dubius
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
4 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Oxystorm® (PLT Health Solutions) is a red spinach (Amaranthus dubius) extract standardized to at least 9% nitrate, so a 1 g dose supplies at least 90 mg of dietary nitrate. Dietary nitrate is reduced to nitric oxide (NO) in vivo via the oral nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, which supports blood vessel relaxation and blood flow. Small trials of red spinach extract report inconsistent effects on blood pressure and exercise performance.

Studied Dose 1 g (about 90 mg nitrate) as a single dose in one small acute study reported in two papers, or daily for 7 days in a cycling trial; 2 g daily (about 180 mg nitrate) for 7 days or 11 weeks in two other small trials.
Active Compound Inorganic nitrate (NO3−) from Amaranthus dubius leaf extract (Oxystorm®, PLT Health Solutions), standardized to at least 9% nitrate by weight (manufacturer specification).

Benefits

Concentrated nitrate source

Oxystorm® is standardized to at least 9% nitrate, so a 1 g dose, small enough for capsules, supplies at least 90 mg (one trial's own assay found about 115 mg). A review lists fresh Amaranthus dubius leaves at roughly 4,100 to 5,200 mg nitrate per kg, versus about 2,500 mg/kg for beetroot.

Supported by Trial 1

Nitric oxide, blood flow and exercise performance in small trials

Dietary nitrate from Oxystorm® is reduced to nitrite by oral bacteria and then to NO, a route separate from L-arginine and L-citrulline. Generic nitrate has lowered the oxygen cost of exercise. With red spinach extract, one 1 g dose raised reactive calf blood flow but not brachial artery dilation, 1 g daily for 7 days improved 4 km cycling time (significant only in women), and 2 g daily did not improve bench press output or muscle oxygenation.

Supported by Trial 1

Blood pressure support

Pooled analyses of generic inorganic nitrate show dose-dependent blood pressure lowering (about 3.9 mmHg systolic across 22 trials in older adults, not significant in those already hypertensive). Direct tests of red spinach extract (about 90 mg nitrate per gram) in young adults found no change within 30 minutes of one 1 g dose or with 2 g daily for 7 days or 11 weeks, but about 4 mmHg lower post-exercise diastolic pressure with 1 g daily for 7 days.

Supported by Trial 1

Sexual health: no human data

No trial of Oxystorm, or of dietary nitrate generally, has measured erectile function, libido or any sexual-health outcome. The only basis for a sexual-health claim is the manufacturer's catalog positioning plus the general nitric-oxide vasodilation mechanism, so no sexual-health benefit can be stated here.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Nitrate-nitrite-NO enterosalivary circulation

Dietary nitrate from Oxystorm® is absorbed in the small intestine and concentrated in saliva by the salivary glands. Oral bacteria reduce salivary nitrate to nitrite via bacterial nitrate reductases, a symbiotic relationship essential for NO production from dietary nitrate. Swallowed nitrite is absorbed and reduced to NO in hypoxic tissues (vascular endothelium, ischemic muscle) by deoxyhemoglobin, xanthine oxidoreductase, and other reductases. In a pharmacokinetic study of a single 2 g dose of this extract, plasma and salivary nitrate and salivary nitrite rose clearly versus placebo but plasma nitrite only slightly, and the authors report raised levels for at least 8 hours.

Clinical trials

1
Red Spinach Extract and Ventilatory Threshold (acute single-dose crossover, Moore 2017)
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled acute crossover in 15 recreationally-active adults (Moore et al., Sports 2017; PMID 29910440), measuring plasma nitrate/nitrite and graded-exercise-test markers after a single 1,000 mg dose.

15 recreationally-active adults; single acute dose, crossover.

After a single 1,000 mg dose (expected about 90 mg nitrate; the authors' assay found about 115 mg), plasma nitrate rose sharply versus placebo, but circulating nitrite did not change significantly. VO2 at the ventilatory threshold was 6.1% higher with the extract, while time-to-exhaustion and peak VO2 were non-significantly lower. Funded by DolCas Biotech, the ingredient's developer. Same participants as the Haun 2016 vascular study, so not a replication.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Possible urine/stool discoloration (pink/red) from Amaranthus pigments (harmless)
Avoid using antibacterial mouthwash (kills oral bacteria that reduce nitrate to nitrite)
Methemoglobinemia is a theoretical risk at very high nitrate doses, not expected at supplement doses

Important Drug interactions

PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil): possible additive NO/hypotension risk; avoid combining unless a doctor approves
Antihypertensive medications: possible additive blood pressure lowering; monitor
Anticoagulants: mild; monitor

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Frequently asked questions about Oxystorm® (Red Spinach Nitrate)

What is Oxystorm?

Oxystorm® (PLT Health Solutions) is a red spinach (Amaranthus dubius) extract standardized to at least 9% nitrate, so a 1 g dose supplies at least 90 mg of dietary nitrate.

What is Oxystorm used for?

Oxystorm is researched primarily for Athletic Performance and Cardiovascular. Oxystorm® is standardized to at least 9% nitrate, so a 1 g dose, small enough for capsules, supplies at least 90 mg (one trial's own assay found about 115 mg).

What is the recommended dosage of Oxystorm?

The clinically studied dose is 1 g (about 90 mg nitrate) as a single dose in one small acute study reported in two papers, or daily for 7 days in a cycling trial; 2 g daily (about 180 mg nitrate) for 7 days or 11 weeks in two other small trials. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Oxystorm safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Oxystorm is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Possible urine/stool discoloration (pink/red) from Amaranthus pigments (harmless) Avoid using antibacterial mouthwash (kills oral bacteria that reduce nitrate to nitrite) It may also interact with some medications. Oxystorm is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Oxystorm interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil): possible additive NO/hypotension risk; avoid combining unless a doctor approves Antihypertensive medications: possible additive blood pressure lowering; monitor If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Oxystorm?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Oxystorm as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 10 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(10 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Larsen FJ, Schiffer TA, Borniquel S, Sahlin K, Ekblom B, Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E Dietary inorganic nitrate improves mitochondrial efficiency in humans. Cell Metab. 2011;13(2):149-159. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2011.01.004.PubMedUsed to support: Double-blind crossover trial in healthy volunteers: dietary inorganic nitrate improved skeletal muscle mitochondrial efficiency (P/O ratio), and the gain correlated with a lower oxygen cost of exercise. Supports the oxygen-cost point; generic nitrate, not Oxystorm.
  2. He Y, Liu J, Cai H, Zhang J, Yi J, Niu Y, Xi H, Peng X, Guo L Effect of inorganic nitrate supplementation on blood pressure in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nitric Oxide. 2021;113-114:13-22. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2021.04.006.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 22 RCTs in older adults: inorganic nitrate lowered systolic BP by 3.90 mmHg and diastolic BP by 2.62 mmHg; reductions were significant in the age 65 plus, BMI over 30 and prehypertension subgroups but not in participants hypertensive at baseline, and only for resting (not 24-hour ambulatory or home) readings. Note: evidence is on dietary inorganic nitrate generally, not Oxystorm® specifically.
  3. Kapil V, Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO, Ahluwalia A Clinical evidence demonstrating the utility of inorganic nitrate in cardiovascular health. Nitric Oxide. 2014;38:45-57. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2014.03.162.PubMedUsed to support: Review of the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway, including reduction of dietary nitrate to nitrite by oral bacteria, and of early human evidence on blood pressure, platelet function, vascular health and exercise capacity. Background for the pathway described on this page; generic nitrate, not Oxystorm.
  4. Haun CT, Kephart WC, Holland AM, Mobley CB, McCloskey AE, Shake JJ, Pascoe DD, Roberts MD, Martin JS. Differential vascular reactivity responses acutely following ingestion of a nitrate rich red spinach extract. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2016;116(11-12):2267-2279..PubMedUsed to support: Double-blind crossover in 15 healthy adults given a red spinach extract (1,000 mg, about 90 mg nitrate): plasma nitrate rose, but blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly over 30 minutes; calf reactive hyperemia blood flow rose, brachial FMD did not change. Direct test of the ingredient's dose for the blood pressure benefit; same 15 participants as the Moore 2017 exercise paper (PMID 29910440), not a separate replication.
  5. Norouzzadeh M, Hasan Rashedi M, Ghaemi S, Saber N, Mirdar Harijani A, Habibi H, Mostafavi S, Sarv F, Farhadnejad H, Teymoori F, Khaleghian M, Mirmiran P. Plasma nitrate, dietary nitrate, blood pressure, and vascular health biomarkers: a GRADE-Assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr J. 2025;24(1):47..PubMedUsed to support: Dose-response meta-analysis of 75 RCTs (1823 participants): plasma nitrate rose and systolic BP fell in proportion to the nitrate dose given (about 0.28 mmHg lower per mmol in acute trials). Supports the point that the blood pressure effect depends on dose; generic dietary nitrate, not Oxystorm.
  6. Townsend JR, Hart TL, Haynes JT 4th, Woods CA, Toy AM, Pihera BC, Aziz MA, Zimmerman GA, Jones MD, Vantrease WC, Gonzalez AM. Influence of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Physical Performance and Body Composition Following Offseason Training in Division I Athletes. J Diet Suppl. 2022;19(4):534-549..PubMedUsed to support: RCT in 16 Division I baseball players: red spinach extract (2 g, 180 mg nitrate) or placebo daily through 11 weeks of offseason training; no significant group x time effects on performance, body composition, resting heart rate or blood pressure. Direct test for the blood pressure and performance points; red spinach extract, brand not stated in the abstract.
  7. Gonzalez AM, Accetta MR, Spitz RW, Mangine GT, Ghigiarelli JJ, Sell KM. Red Spinach Extract Supplementation Improves Cycle Time Trial Performance in Recreationally Active Men and Women. J Strength Cond Res. 2021;35(9):2541-2545..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, counterbalanced, double-blind crossover in 17 recreationally active adults (9 men, 8 women): 1 g red spinach extract daily for 7 days and 1 h before testing lowered post-exercise diastolic blood pressure (66.1 vs 70.1 mmHg) and improved 4 km cycling time, power and speed versus placebo; the performance gains were significant only in women.
  8. Haynes JT 4th, Townsend JR, Aziz MA, Jones MD, Littlefield LA, Ruiz MD, Johnson KD, Gonzalez AM. Impact of Red Spinach Extract Supplementation on Bench Press Performance, Muscle Oxygenation, and Cognitive Function in Resistance-Trained Males. Sports (Basel). 2021;9(6):77..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized double-blind crossover in 10 resistance-trained men: red spinach extract (2 g, 180 mg nitrate) for 7 days did not change bench press repetitions or power, muscle oxygenation (NIRS), Stroop scores, heart rate or blood pressure versus placebo (blood pressure data in the full text). Direct test of red spinach extract (Super Spinach, NuVital Health) for the exercise-performance and blood pressure points.
  9. Subramanian D, Gupta S. Pharmacokinetic study of amaranth extract in healthy humans: A randomized trial. Nutrition. 2016;32(7-8):748-53..PubMedUsed to support: Crossover in 16 healthy adults: a single 2 g dose of amaranth (red spinach) extract raised plasma and salivary nitrate and salivary nitrite significantly versus placebo, while plasma nitrite rose only slightly; authors report elevation for at least 8 h. Moore 2017 identifies this as the same red spinach extract source.
  10. Jędrejko M, Jędrejko K, Gómez-Renaud VM, Kała K, Muszyńska B. Exploring the Impact of Alternative Sources of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Exercise Performance. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(7):3650..PubMedUsed to support: Review of red and green spinach as alternative dietary nitrate sources for exercise. Table 2 lists fresh Amaranthus dubius leaves at 4,100 to 5,200 mg nitrate/kg, the text gives about 2,500 mg/kg for beetroot, and it describes Oxystorm as an A. dubius extract standardized to 9% nitrate. Supports the nitrate-content comparison.