N.O.Max® is a specialized nitric oxide and sports nutrition ingredient combining Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction Gold® (BPFG) with L-citrulline.
N.O.Max® is a proprietary combination of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction Gold® and L-citrulline developed to support nitric oxide availability, endothelial function, circulation and physical performance.
The formulation brings together two complementary components:
L-citrulline, a precursor to L-arginine, which is used by nitric oxide synthase to produce nitric oxide.
Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction Gold®, a concentrated bergamot polyphenol fraction with antioxidant and vascular-support properties.
Rather than approaching nitric oxide production from the precursor pathway alone, N.O.Max® is designed to address both NO production and the vascular/oxidative environment in which nitric oxide functions.
This makes N.O.Max® particularly relevant as a nitric oxide ingredient, sports nutrition ingredient and vascular-performance ingredient.
The bergamot component is Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction Gold® (BPFG), derived from authentic Citrus bergamia Risso.
BPF Gold® maintains the characteristic bergamot flavanone profile associated with the Bergamonte® platform, including:
This distinguishes the bergamot component from a generic citrus extract or an ingredient specified only by total polyphenols.
The rationale is complementary.
L-citrulline increases the availability of L-arginine, providing substrate for nitric oxide production.
However, simply producing more nitric oxide does not address the oxidative environment surrounding endothelial NO signaling. Oxidative stress can reduce nitric oxide bioavailability.
Bergamot polyphenols provide antioxidant activity and have been investigated for their effects on endothelial function and nitric oxide availability.
The N.O.Max® concept therefore combines:
L-citrulline → supports NO production
with
Bergamot polyphenols → support antioxidant status, endothelial function and NO bioavailability.
The direct N.O.Max® clinical study found that the combination produced effects greater than those observed with L-citrulline alone across several vascular and performance measurements. (PubMed Central (PMC))
Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule produced within the vascular endothelium.
Among its principal physiological functions is regulation of vascular tone and blood-vessel dilation.
When endothelial cells produce NO, it signals vascular smooth muscle to relax, supporting:
For athletes, these functions are particularly relevant because working skeletal muscle requires efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients during exercise.
L-citrulline is converted primarily in the kidneys to L-arginine.
L-arginine then serves as a substrate for nitric oxide synthase, which produces nitric oxide.
This pathway can be summarized as:
L-Citrulline → L-Arginine → Nitric Oxide → Vasodilation
L-citrulline is therefore widely used in sports nutrition and vascular-health formulations intended to support nitric oxide production.
N.O.Max® extends this conventional approach by combining L-citrulline with antioxidant-rich bergamot polyphenols.
Nitric oxide is biologically useful only if sufficient amounts remain available to perform their signaling function.
Reactive oxygen species can interact with NO, reducing its availability and contributing to endothelial dysfunction.
This creates an important distinction between:
producing nitric oxide
and
maintaining nitric oxide bioavailability.
The scientific rationale for N.O.Max® is that L-citrulline supports the substrate side of the pathway while BPFG provides antioxidant support to the vascular environment.
The published N.O.Max® study specifically investigated this proposed interaction and reported enhanced NO release and endothelial-dependent vasodilation with the combination. (PubMed Central (PMC))
Yes.
N.O.Max® has been directly evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial involving 90 trained male athletes.
Citation
Mollace V, et al.
The Antioxidant Power of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction Gold Potentiates the Effects of L-Citrulline in Athlete Performance and Vasodilation in a Pilot Study.
Nutrients. 2025;17(7):1106. (PubMed Central (PMC))
Study at a Glance
Subjects: 90 trained male athletes/cyclists
Duration: 3 months
Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study
Researchers compared nine groups receiving placebo, different doses of BPFG alone, L-citrulline alone, or combinations of BPFG + L-citrulline as N.O.Max®. (PubMed Central (PMC))
The clinical trial evaluated BPFG and L-citrulline individually and at different dose combinations.
The BPFG-only groups received:
The L-citrulline-only groups received:
Four additional groups received combinations of these BPFG and L-citrulline doses as N.O.Max®. (PubMed Central (PMC))
This dose-ranging design is valuable because it allowed researchers to compare the combination against the individual components rather than merely comparing N.O.Max® with placebo.
After three months, the combination of BPFG and L-citrulline produced significant improvements in vascular and exercise-performance parameters.
Researchers reported:
Nitric oxide and RHI improvements were highly significant compared with placebo (p < 0.001), while cardiorespiratory performance measurements also improved significantly. (PubMed Central (PMC))
What This Means
N.O.Max® provides direct human evidence connecting the ingredient to nitric oxide availability, vascular responsiveness and exercise-performance physiology.
Because this was a pilot study, the authors appropriately concluded that larger studies are needed to confirm the findings. (PubMed Central (PMC))
Yes, and this is one of the most important findings from the study.
The researchers reported that L-citrulline used independently did not produce substantial performance advantages under the study conditions, whereas combining L-citrulline with BPFG resulted in significant improvements in:
The authors characterized the combination as producing a synergistic effect on nitric oxide release, vasodilation and sports-performance parameters. (PubMed Central (PMC))
This provides direct experimental support for the rationale behind the N.O.Max® combination rather than relying solely on theoretical ingredient synergy.
Before the direct N.O.Max® study, BPF Gold® itself was investigated in trained cyclists.
Citation
Mollace R, Gliozzi M, Tavernese A, et al.
Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction supplementation improves metabolic balance, endothelial function and maximal oxygen uptake in athletes.
Journal of Sports Medicine and Therapy. 2018;3:53–61. (Sports Med OA)
Study at a Glance
Subjects: 30 healthy, well-trained male cyclists
Dose: 650 mg BPF Gold® twice daily — 1,300 mg/day
Duration: 4 weeks
Design: Placebo-controlled crossover protocol
Researchers measured nitric oxide, endothelial function, lipid parameters and exercise performance. (Sports Med OA)
Four weeks of BPF Gold® supplementation significantly increased baseline nitric oxide and improved endothelial-dependent vasodilation compared with placebo.
The study also reported improvements in exercise-performance parameters. (Sports Med OA)
Notable results included:
Parameter | Placebo | BPF Gold® |
VO₂max | 68.0 | 77.8 |
Peak power | 416 W | 445 W |
Maximum heart rate | 190 bpm | 182 bpm |
Total cholesterol | 197.7 mg/dL | 167.1 mg/dL |
LDL cholesterol | 96.0 mg/dL | 80.8 mg/dL |
HDL cholesterol | 54.4 mg/dL | 68.2 mg/dL |
The authors concluded that increased NO release and improved endothelial function may contribute to cardiovascular adaptation and exercise performance. (Sports Med OA)
This study provides important scientific background for why BPFG was subsequently combined with L-citrulline in N.O.Max®.
The direct N.O.Max® clinical study reported significantly improved VO₂max with the BPFG + L-citrulline combinations compared with placebo. (PubMed Central (PMC))
VO₂max represents the maximum amount of oxygen the body can utilize during intense exercise and is a widely used measure of cardiorespiratory fitness.
For sports nutrition formulators, this is an important distinction.
N.O.Max® is not positioned simply around the subjective concept of a workout “pump.” Its clinical research examined objective physiological measures related to:
VT1 and VT2 are ventilatory thresholds used in exercise physiology to assess changes in metabolic and cardiorespiratory response as exercise intensity increases.
VT1 generally represents the first point at which ventilation begins increasing disproportionately relative to oxygen consumption.
VT2 occurs at a higher exercise intensity and is associated with a substantial increase in ventilation as metabolic stress rises.
The N.O.Max® study reported improvements in both VT1 and VT2 with the BPFG + L-citrulline combination. (PubMed Central (PMC))
For endurance athletes, improvements in these physiological thresholds can be particularly relevant to sustained exercise performance.
Yes.
Endothelial function was a central endpoint of the N.O.Max® research.
The study measured Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI), a non-invasive assessment of endothelial-dependent vascular responsiveness.
After three months, the BPFG + L-citrulline combination produced significant improvement in RHI compared with placebo (p < 0.001). (PubMed Central (PMC))
This supports the positioning of N.O.Max® not simply as an L-citrulline ingredient, but as a vascular and endothelial-support platform.
No.
The direct human research was conducted in trained athletes, so sports nutrition and exercise performance represent the strongest evidence-based positioning.
However, the underlying physiological targets: nitric oxide availability, endothelial function and vascular responsiveness, are relevant to broader cardiovascular wellness.
Potential product categories may therefore include:
Claims and positioning should remain consistent with the population and outcomes actually studied.
Many conventional nitric oxide products rely primarily on providing amino-acid precursors such as:
N.O.Max® uses a different strategy:
Provide the precursor + support the vascular environment.
The L-citrulline component supports arginine availability for NO synthesis.
The BPFG component provides polyphenols with antioxidant and endothelial-support properties.
Most importantly, the combination itself has now been tested against the individual components in a randomized clinical study. (PubMed Central (PMC))
That direct combination research is a major point of differentiation.
BPF Gold® is the concentrated bergamot polyphenolic component.
N.O.Max® combines BPFG with L-citrulline to create a purpose-built nitric oxide and sports-performance formulation.
Feature | BPF Gold® | N.O.Max® |
Bergamot polyphenols | Yes | Yes |
L-citrulline | No | Yes |
Antioxidant support | Yes | Yes |
Endothelial support | Yes | Yes |
NO pathway precursor | No | Yes |
Direct athlete research | Yes | Yes |
Direct combination/synergy study | No | Yes |
Primary positioning | High-potency bergamot/vascular health | NO, vasodilation & sports performance |
BPF Gold® therefore provides the bergamot foundation; N.O.Max® extends that technology into a dedicated nitric oxide formulation.
Yes.
N.O.Max® is particularly well suited to:
Its direct research in trained athletes provides a stronger basis for sports nutrition positioning than ingredients supported only by mechanistic or preclinical evidence.
Formulators should use the clinically investigated N.O.Max® composition and dosage when seeking the closest relationship to the published research.
No. The scientific rationale for N.O.Max® is based on nitric oxide, vascular function, antioxidant protection and oxygen utilization, rather than central nervous system stimulation.
This makes it relevant to formulators developing:
It can also potentially be incorporated into broader formulations containing stimulants, subject to formulation, safety and regulatory review.
A formulator should consider more than whether an ingredient contains L-citrulline or L-arginine.
Important questions include:
N.O.Max® addresses these questions through direct human research measuring NO, RHI, VO₂max, VT1, VT2, peak power and heart rate, with the combination compared against BPFG and L-citrulline individually. (PubMed Central (PMC))
A formulator should consider more than whether an ingredient contains L-citrulline or L-arginine.
Important questions include:
N.O.Max® addresses these questions through direct human research measuring NO, RHI, VO₂max, VT1, VT2, peak power and heart rate, with the combination compared against BPFG and L-citrulline individually. (PubMed Central (PMC))
N.O.Max® is available through HP Ingredients as part of the Bergamonte® ingredient portfolio developed with H&AD in Calabria, Italy.
Qualified formulators, manufacturers and contract manufacturers may request applicable materials including:
For companies searching for a nitric oxide ingredient, sports nutrition ingredient, L-citrulline ingredient, bergamot polyphenol ingredient, endothelial-support ingredient or clinically studied performance ingredient, the principal distinction of N.O.Max® is straightforward:
it combines BPF Gold® and L-citrulline, and the combination itself has been investigated in human athletes rather than relying solely on research conducted on its individual components. (PubMed Central (PMC))
