L-CITRULLINE

OTHER NAME(S):

2-amino-5-(carbamoylamino)pentanoic acid, Citrulline, Citrulline Malate, L-Citrulina, L-Citrulline AKG, L-Citrulline-Alpha Ketoglutaric Acid, L-Citrulline Malate, Malate de Citrulline.<br/><br/>

Overview

Overview Information

L-citrulline is a naturally occurring amino acid. It is found in some foods like watermelons and is also produced naturally by the body.

L-citrulline is used for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, fatigue, muscle weakness, sickle cell disease, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It is used for heart disease, body building, increasing energy, and for improving athletic performance.

How does it work?

L-citrulline is a naturally occurring amino acid found in food, such as watermelons, and also made in the body. Our bodies change L-citrulline into another amino acid called L-arginine and also to nitric oxide. L-citrulline might help increase the supply of ingredients the body needs to making certain proteins. It might also help open up veins and arteries to improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Exercise performance. L-citrulline might not be effective for improving exercise performance. In one research test, L-citrulline did not improve performance on a treadmill. People who took L-citrulline actually became exhausted more quickly than people who did not take it.
  • High blood pressure in children after heart surgery. L-citrulline might help reduce the high blood pressure that can occur after heart surgery in children. It’s given before and after the surgery.
  • Sickle cell disease. L-citrulline might improve some symptoms in people with sickle cell disease.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of L-citrulline for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

L-citrulline is POSSIBLY SAFE when used appropriately by adults and children.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy or breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable scientific information to know if L-citrulline is safe to take during pregnancy or while breast-feeding. Until more is known, avoid L-citrulline while you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Interactions

Interactions?

We currently have no information for L-CITRULLINE Interactions.

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of L-citrulline depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for L-citrulline. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • Barr FE, Tirona RG, Taylor MB, et al. Pharmacokinetics and safety of intravenously administered citrulline in children undergoing congenital heart surgery: potential therapy for postoperative pulmonary hypertension. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134:319-26. View abstract.
  • Berry GT, Steiner RD. Long-term management of patients with urea cycle disorders. J Pediatr 2001;138:S56-61. View abstract.
  • Carpenter TO, Levy HL, Holtrop ME, et al. Lysinuric protein intolerance presenting as childhood osteoporosis. Clinical and skeletal response to citrulline therapy. New Engl J Med 1985;312:290-4. View abstract.
  • Collins JK, Wu G, Perkins-Veazie P, et al. Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults. Nutrition 2007;23:261-6. View abstract.
  • Curis E, Nicolis I, Moinard C, et al. Almost all about citrulline in mammals. Amino Acids 2005;29:177-205. View abstract.
  • Hayashi T, Juliet PAR, Matsui-Hirai H, et al. L-citrulline and L-arginine supplementation retards the progression of high-cholesterol-diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005;102:13681-6. View abstract.
  • Hickner RC, Tanner CJ, Evans CA, et al. L-citrulline reduces time to exhaustion and insulin response to a graded exercise test. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006;38:660-6. View abstract.
  • Mandel H, Levy N, Izkovitch S, Korman SH. Elevated plasma citrulline and arginine due to consumption of Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon). J Inherit Metab Dis 2005;28:467-72. View abstract.
  • Moinard C, Nicolis I, Neveux N, et al. Dose-ranging effects of citrulline administration on plasma amino acids and hormonal patterns in healthy subjects: the Citrudose pharmacokinetic study. Br J Nutr 2008;99:855-62. View abstract.
  • Osowska S, Duchemann T, Walrand S, et al. Citrulline modulates muscle protein metabolism in old malnourished rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2006;291:E582-6. View abstract.
  • Osowska S, Moinard C, Neveux N, et al. Citrulline increases arginine pools and restores nitrogen balance after massive intestinal resection. Gut 2004;53:1781-6. View abstract.
  • Romero MJ, Platt DH, Caldwell RB, Caldwell RW. Therapeutic use of citrulline in cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc Drug Rev 2006;24:275-90. View abstract.
  • Ruiz E, Del Rio M, Somoza B, et al. L-citrulline, the by-product of nitric oxide synthesis, decreases vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. J Pharmacol Exp Therap 1999;290:310-3. View abstract.
  • Ruiz E, Tejerina T. Relaxant effects of L-citrulline in rabbit vascular smooth muscle. Br J Pharmacol 1998;125:186-92. View abstract.
  • Schwedhelm E, Maas R, Freese R, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: impact on nitric oxide metabolism. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008;65:51-9. View abstract.
  • Smith HA, Canter JA, Christian KG, et al. Nitric oxide precursors and congenital heart surgery: a randomized controlled trial of oral citrulline. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006;132:58-65. View abstract.
  • Tremblay GC. Ornithine or citrulline therapy in treatment of Reye's syndrome (letter). New Engl J Med 1975;292:160-1. View abstract.
  • Waugh WH, Daeschner CW 3rd, Files BA, et al. Oral citrulline as arginine precursor may be beneficial in sickle cell disease: early phase two results. J Natl Med Assoc 2001;93:363-71. View abstract.
  • Barr FE, Tirona RG, Taylor MB, et al. Pharmacokinetics and safety of intravenously administered citrulline in children undergoing congenital heart surgery: potential therapy for postoperative pulmonary hypertension. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134:319-26. View abstract.
  • Berry GT, Steiner RD. Long-term management of patients with urea cycle disorders. J Pediatr 2001;138:S56-61. View abstract.
  • Carpenter TO, Levy HL, Holtrop ME, et al. Lysinuric protein intolerance presenting as childhood osteoporosis. Clinical and skeletal response to citrulline therapy. New Engl J Med 1985;312:290-4. View abstract.
  • Collins JK, Wu G, Perkins-Veazie P, et al. Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults. Nutrition 2007;23:261-6. View abstract.
  • Curis E, Nicolis I, Moinard C, et al. Almost all about citrulline in mammals. Amino Acids 2005;29:177-205. View abstract.
  • Hayashi T, Juliet PAR, Matsui-Hirai H, et al. L-citrulline and L-arginine supplementation retards the progression of high-cholesterol-diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005;102:13681-6. View abstract.
  • Hickner RC, Tanner CJ, Evans CA, et al. L-citrulline reduces time to exhaustion and insulin response to a graded exercise test. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006;38:660-6. View abstract.
  • Mandel H, Levy N, Izkovitch S, Korman SH. Elevated plasma citrulline and arginine due to consumption of Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon). J Inherit Metab Dis 2005;28:467-72. View abstract.
  • Moinard C, Nicolis I, Neveux N, et al. Dose-ranging effects of citrulline administration on plasma amino acids and hormonal patterns in healthy subjects: the Citrudose pharmacokinetic study. Br J Nutr 2008;99:855-62. View abstract.
  • Osowska S, Duchemann T, Walrand S, et al. Citrulline modulates muscle protein metabolism in old malnourished rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2006;291:E582-6. View abstract.
  • Osowska S, Moinard C, Neveux N, et al. Citrulline increases arginine pools and restores nitrogen balance after massive intestinal resection. Gut 2004;53:1781-6. View abstract.
  • Romero MJ, Platt DH, Caldwell RB, Caldwell RW. Therapeutic use of citrulline in cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc Drug Rev 2006;24:275-90. View abstract.
  • Ruiz E, Del Rio M, Somoza B, et al. L-citrulline, the by-product of nitric oxide synthesis, decreases vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. J Pharmacol Exp Therap 1999;290:310-3. View abstract.
  • Ruiz E, Tejerina T. Relaxant effects of L-citrulline in rabbit vascular smooth muscle. Br J Pharmacol 1998;125:186-92. View abstract.
  • Schwedhelm E, Maas R, Freese R, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: impact on nitric oxide metabolism. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008;65:51-9. View abstract.
  • Smith HA, Canter JA, Christian KG, et al. Nitric oxide precursors and congenital heart surgery: a randomized controlled trial of oral citrulline. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006;132:58-65. View abstract.
  • Tremblay GC. Ornithine or citrulline therapy in treatment of Reye's syndrome (letter). New Engl J Med 1975;292:160-1. View abstract.
  • Waugh WH, Daeschner CW 3rd, Files BA, et al. Oral citrulline as arginine precursor may be beneficial in sickle cell disease: early phase two results. J Natl Med Assoc 2001;93:363-71. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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