Short answer: nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels, supporting easier circulation — including to the brain, which uses a disproportionate share of the body's oxygen supply and depends on continuous blood flow.
What nitric oxide actually does
Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule produced by cells lining blood vessels. It triggers the smooth muscle in vessel walls to relax — vasodilation — reducing resistance to blood flow throughout the body, including the brain.
Why the brain depends so heavily on circulation
Despite being roughly 2% of body weight, the brain uses about 20% of the body's oxygen supply. Neurons have essentially no energy reserve of their own — they depend on continuous blood flow for oxygen and nutrients, making circulation directly relevant to sustained mental function.
How L-Arginine and L-Citrulline feed this pathway
L-Arginine is a direct nitric oxide precursor. L-Citrulline converts to arginine in the body, providing a secondary route into the same pathway — using both together, plus extended-release forms, is a common strategy to sustain the effect across the day rather than delivering one short burst.
What the research actually shows
The connection between nitric oxide and circulation is well-established generally. What's less established is the direct link to measurable cognitive outcomes in a finished supplement — most supporting research covers the ingredients' role in circulation broadly, not cognition-specific clinical trials of any particular product.
See this mechanism in a complete formula
MemoHoney combines four nitric-oxide ingredients with Niacin and Beta-Alanine.
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See our full ingredients breakdown for how this mechanism fits into the complete formula.