TY - JOUR
T1 - A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance
T2 - Citruline mallate
AU - GOUGH, LEWIS
AU - Sparks, S. Andy
AU - MCNAUGHTON, LARS
AU - Higgins, Matthew F.
AU - Newbury, Josh W.
AU - Trexler, Eric
AU - Faghy, Mark
AU - BRIDGE, CRAIG
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/8/21
Y1 - 2021/8/21
N2 - As a nitric oxide (NO) enhancer, citrulline malate (CM) has recently been touted as a potential ergogenic aid to both resistance and high-intensity exercise performance, as well as the recovery of muscular performance. The mechanism has been associated with enhanced blood flow to active musculature, however, it might be more far-reaching as either ammonia homeostasis could be improved, or ATP production could be increased via greater availability of malate. Moreover, CM might improve muscle recovery via increased nutrient delivery and/or removal of waste products. To date, a single acute 8 g dose of CM on either resistance exercise performance or cycling has been supplemented, which has produced equivocal results. This makes the effectiveness of CM to improve exercise performance difficult to determine. Reasons for the disparity in conclusions seem to be due to methodological discrepancies such as the testing protocols and the associated test-retest reliability, dosing strategy (i.e. amount and timing), and the recent discovery of quality control issues with some manufacturers stated (i.e. citrulline:malate ratios). Further exploration of the optimal dose is therefore required including quantification of the bioavailability of NO, citrulline, and malate following ingestion of a range of CM doses. Similarly, further well-controlled studies using highly repeatable exercise protocols with a large aerobic component are required to assess the mechanisms associated with this supplement appropriately. Until such studies are completed, the efficacy of CM supplementation to improve exercise performance remains ambiguous.
AB - As a nitric oxide (NO) enhancer, citrulline malate (CM) has recently been touted as a potential ergogenic aid to both resistance and high-intensity exercise performance, as well as the recovery of muscular performance. The mechanism has been associated with enhanced blood flow to active musculature, however, it might be more far-reaching as either ammonia homeostasis could be improved, or ATP production could be increased via greater availability of malate. Moreover, CM might improve muscle recovery via increased nutrient delivery and/or removal of waste products. To date, a single acute 8 g dose of CM on either resistance exercise performance or cycling has been supplemented, which has produced equivocal results. This makes the effectiveness of CM to improve exercise performance difficult to determine. Reasons for the disparity in conclusions seem to be due to methodological discrepancies such as the testing protocols and the associated test-retest reliability, dosing strategy (i.e. amount and timing), and the recent discovery of quality control issues with some manufacturers stated (i.e. citrulline:malate ratios). Further exploration of the optimal dose is therefore required including quantification of the bioavailability of NO, citrulline, and malate following ingestion of a range of CM doses. Similarly, further well-controlled studies using highly repeatable exercise protocols with a large aerobic component are required to assess the mechanisms associated with this supplement appropriately. Until such studies are completed, the efficacy of CM supplementation to improve exercise performance remains ambiguous.
KW - Metabolism
KW - high-intensity exercise
KW - supplements
KW - resistance training
KW - nitric oxide
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04774-6
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04774-6
M3 - Article (journal)
SN - 1439-6319
JO - European Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - European Journal of Applied Physiology
ER -