Article Publish Status: FREE
Abstract Title:

Oral L-citrulline supplementation enhances cycling time trial performance in healthy trained men: Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled 2-way crossover study.

Abstract Source:

J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2016 ;13:6. Epub 2016 Feb 19. PMID: 26900386

Abstract Author(s):

Takashi Suzuki, Masahiko Morita, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Ayako Kamimura

Article Affiliation:

Takashi Suzuki

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Many human studies report that nitric oxide (NO) improves sport performance. This is because NO is a potential modulator of blood flow, muscle energy metabolism, and mitochondrial respiration during exercise. L-Citrulline is an amino acid present in the body and is a potent endogenous precursor of L-arginine, which is a substrate for NO synthase. Here, we investigated the effect of oral L-citrulline supplementation on cycling time trial performance in humans.

METHODS: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled 2-way crossover study was employed. Twenty-two trained males consumed 2.4 g/day of L-citrulline or placebo orally for 7 days. On Day 8 they took 2.4 g of L-citrulline or placebo 1 h before a 4-km cycling time trial. Time taken to complete the 4 km cycle, along with power output/VO2 ratio (PO/VO2), plasma nitrite and nitrate (NOx) and amino acid levels, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores, was evaluated.

RESULTS: L-Citrulline supplementation significantly increased plasma L-arginine levels and reduced completion time by 1.5 % (p < 0.05) compared with placebo. Moreover, L-citrulline significantly improved subjective feelings of muscle fatigue and concentration immediately after exercise.

CONCLUSIONS: Oral L-citrulline supplementation reduced the time take to complete a cycle ergometer exercise trial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials UMIN000014278.

Study Type : Human Study

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