There are various l-citrulline supplements out there, but how does l-citrulline work? Learn about this amino acid and how it may help you.
L-citrulline (or simply citrulline) is a non-essential amino acid that the body makes on its own but that you can also get from foods and dietary supplements. Some of its functions include detoxifying ammonia and acting as a vasodilator to help dilate blood vessels and improve circulation.
When it comes to supplements, you can find them in two forms: L-citrulline and citrulline malate. L-citrulline is just citrulline without anything else added, while citrulline malate is a mix of L-citrulline and DL-malate (which helps convert food to energy).
How L-Citrulline Works
L-citrulline converts in the body into an amino acid called L-arginine, which then converts into a chemical called nitric oxide. In turn, nitric oxide works as a vasodilator that relaxes blood vessel walls and improves circulation. In addition, it is thought that citrulline may help the body make specific proteins.
While more research is necessary, citrulline supplements may help with different health aspects. For example, they may enhance physical exercise and improve athletic performance, help with blood pressure and erectile dysfunction, and more.
Athletic Performance
“[According to our results,] we conclude that the use of [citrulline malate] might be useful to increase athletic performance in high-intensity anaerobic exercises with short rest times and to relieve post-exercise muscle soreness,” explained the study authors of a 2010 randomized double-blind study.
Heart Health
According to studies, short-term L-citrulline supplementation may help lower blood pressure in adults with hypertension and pre-hypertension. However, these studies note that pharmaceutical/nutraceutical grade citrulline is instrumental in promoting heart health. “The safety and efficacy of long-term l-citrulline supplementation, therefore, requires further investigation,” explain the study authors.
Erectile Dysfunction
Since L-citrulline boosts L-arginine and, therefore, nitric oxide production, it may help promote circulation. As a result, it may help increase blood flow to the penis and improve erectile dysfunction symptoms.
In their conclusion, the study authors noted that “although less effective than phosphodiesterase type-5 enzyme inhibitors [such as Viagra], at least in the short term, L-citrulline supplementation has been proved to be safe and psychologically well accepted by patients. Its role as an alternative treatment for mild to moderate ED, particularly in patients with a psychological fear of phosphodiesterase type-5 enzyme inhibitors, deserves further research.”
The Outlook
While the body naturally makes L-citrulline, using dietary supplements may help boost your athletic performance and cardiovascular health along with erectile dysfunction. In addition, you can exercise regularly and eat healthily to improve your heart health.
If you’re looking for an effective citrulline supplement, consider taking L-arginine Plus. It contains L-citrulline along with L-arginine and other vitamins and minerals to really promote your circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. If you’re ready to support your health, then live a healthy life and take L-arginine Plus for an additional boost.