What is citrulline?

December 05, 2022

Citrulline is gaining popularity as a health and exercise supplement.

It is produced naturally in the body and found in foods, but supplements increase the citrulline content in the body above typical levels.

What is citrulline?

Citrulline is an amino acid first found in watermelon that is considered non-essential, which means your body can produce some naturally on its own. However, you can increase your levels by eating foods that contain citrulline or by taking supplements rather than From relying on your own body producing these higher levels; these higher levels may have beneficial effects on health and exercise performance.

Citrulline has essential roles in the body, but unlike some amino acids, it is not used to build proteins. However, it plays a crucial role in the urea cycle, which rids your body of harmful compounds. Specifically, the urea cycle removes ammonia from the body. The end product of this cycle is urea, which your body eliminates in urine. Citrulline can also help dilate blood vessels and may play a role in building muscle.

Citrulline produces several stimulating effects on the body. One of the main ways it works is by increasing vasodilate

Vasodilation refers to the widening of the arteries or veins. Associated with lower blood pressure and increased blood flow After consuming citrulline, some of it is converted into another amino acid called arginine.

Arginine is converted into a molecule called nitric oxide (NO 3), which causes blood vessels to dilate by relaxing smooth muscle cells, constricting them.

Although citrulline is not an amino acid used directly to build proteins, it has been shown to increase protein synthesis by stimulating an essential signaling pathway involved in muscle building.

*Note* Citrulline is converted to arginine and arginine to nitric oxide, which means that their benefit is the same, but the doses of each of them differ

Types of citrulline supplements

There are two types of citrulline in dietary supplements:

L-Citrulline: This refers to citrulline with nothing else added.

Citrulline malate: This refers to a combination of citrulline and another compound called malate, which is an essential component for energy production