Best L-Citrulline Supplements At A Glance
Best L-Citrulline Capsules
L-Citrulline By Double Wood
If you’re more concerned with ease of use and don’t want to taste l-citrulline in its powder version, then this product is definitely for you. You can easily take 2-3 capsules right before training and don’t have to worry about making a mess from measuring out doses.
Best L-Citrulline Powder
L-Citrulline Powder By Doctor’s Best
Doctor’s Best offers 200 grams of L-citrulline powder for $19.64. Each scoop provides 3 g of Kyowa Quality L-citrulline and it is recommended to take 1 scoop daily before training.
Best L-Citrulline And L-Arginine Capsules
Fuel By Toniq
Fuel by Toniq contains 120 vegetarian capsules in total, with each serving of 4 capsules providing 2,400 mg of an even L-citrulline and L-arginine VELOX blend along with 600 mg of beet extract.
Best L-Citrulline DL-Malate Powder
L-Citrulline DL-Malate 2:1 Powder By Supplements
This product’s combination of malate and citrulline significantly increases nitric oxide synthesis. It’s an incredible vasodilator that will help optimize training.
Amid the dietary supplements boom, l-citrulline has become increasingly popular due to its extensive amount of beneficial properties. However, as with all other supplements, several myths are swirling around such as those related to its overall effectiveness or potential side effects.
Here, I’ll dive deep into the world of citrulline and demystify the nature of this up-and-coming health supplement. I’ll review all of the relevant aspects and empirical information related to this highly effective amino acid and tell you exactly what’s true about its potential uses while revealing what’s not.
L-Citrulline Powder
L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that’s produced naturally by our intestines. It is also present in some fruits and foods, such as watermelon, nuts, pumpkins, and cucumbers.
However, our body does not produce this amino acid in large quantities. Studies have shown that exogenous administration may lead to health benefits such as improvements in sports performance.
After ingesting your dose of citrulline, the enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase will take care of transforming a good part of this amino acid into l-arginine. This opens the door to a whole new world of benefits.
Some of the positive effects of l-arginine are:
- Improvements in cardiovascular health
- Management and treatment of erectile dysfunction
- Better regulation of blood sugar levels
Several studies have shown that combining arginine and citrulline leads to greater overall production of nitric oxide and better health outcomes compared to taking either amino acid individually. One study compared the effects of a 1g combination of l-citrulline and l-arginine against that of 2g of l-citrulline or l-arginine per day on plasma l-arginine levels. The results showed that the individuals who were treated with the lower dose combination of the two amino acids instead had significantly higher l-arginine plasma levels than those found in patients who were administered 2 grams of either single amino acid.
Finally, a study published by the Journal of Strength and Conditioning in 2010 showed that citrulline malate improves anaerobic performance. Participants in this study who received supplementation increased their bench press repetitions by up to 50%.
As if this were not enough, the researchers also observed a 40% reduction in muscle soreness after the session.
L-Citrulline Vs Citrulline Malate
Citrulline malate is a mixture of malate, which comes from malic acid, and citrulline that intervenes in the Krebs cycle, the primary method of aerobic energy production and elimination of urea.
By adding malate to the equation, we obtain the synthesis of a new amino acid: ornithine. It will play a vital role in optimizing the conversion of citrulline into nitric acid, thereby improving the nitric oxide metabolism and ammonia recycling process.
By adding malate to the equation, we obtain the synthesis of a new amino acid: ornithine. It will play a vital role in optimizing the conversion of citrulline into nitric acid, thereby improving the nitric oxide metabolism and ammonia recycling process.
Finally, the evidence that l-citrulline alone improves ATP production is inconclusive. On the other hand, when combining the two, the beneficial effects become much more evident.
Are There Benefits To Taking L-Citrulline Pre Workout?
Those who use citrulline for its aerobic and anaerobic benefits take it half an hour before workouts. This is a wise practice since the flow-enhancing effects have a quick onset.
Some benefits of taking citrulline before training are:
- Increases blood flow & N.O (nitric oxide) production that leads to better pumps
- Increases muscle nutrient absorption and utilization
- Improves cardiovascular endurance
- Reduces training fatigue
Some users notice an increase in energy and decide to take citrulline in the morning. If you consume caffeine as soon as you wake up, adding citrulline to boost blood circulation is a good idea too.
How Long Does Citrulline Stay In Your System?
Most of the citrulline you ingest is converted to nitric oxide and arginine. These two compounds have a short duration inside our bodies. However, their effects last longer than their active life in our bodies.
Arginine will last approximately two hours in your plasma and tissues, while nitric oxide will make its way through your system in about three hours.
Best L-Citrulline Supplements
Best L-Citrulline Capsules
L-Citrulline By Double Wood
Forget about the unpleasant consistency of powdered supplements. With Double Wood’s l-citrulline capsules, this will no longer be a problem. Each capsule contains 600 mg of citrulline, so we recommend consuming two or three per day.
This product is gluten-free and non-GMO and is made in the USA. Considering the unbeatable price of $19.95 for 210 capsules, this is a more than viable option.
Best L-Citrulline Powder
L-Citrulline Powder By Doctor’s Best
Doctor’s Best offers 200 grams of L-citrulline powder for $19.64. Each scoop provides 3 g of Kyowa Quality L-citrulline and it is recommended to take 1 scoop daily before training.
Kyowa Quality has been a leader in the amino acids industry for over 60 years and is well regarded for its extensive selection of high purity compounds.
Altogether, this product should last most people well over 2 months.
Best L-Citrulline And L-Arginine Capsules
Fuel By Toniq
Fuel by Toniq contains 120 vegetarian capsules in total, with each serving of 4 capsules providing 2,400 mg of an even L-citrulline and L-arginine VELOX blend along with 600 mg of beet extract.
VELOX has been shown in clinical studies to boost nitric oxide levels more readily than L-arginine alone and enhances power output, reduces muscle soreness, and increases blood arginine levels even more effectively with the inclusion of beet extract.
On top of that, Toniq ensures that this product is 99% pure by undergoing third-party independent laboratory testing.
Best L-Citrulline DL-Malate Powder
L-Citrulline DL-Malate 2:1 Powder By Supplements
Two grams of citrulline to one gram of malate: no secret formula. However, with these two highly synergistic ingredients, Bulk Supplements offer a solid product that simply works.
The combination of malate and citrulline significantly increases nitric oxide synthesis, a natural vasodilator that will optimize your workouts and pumps.
If you don’t want to be left in doubt, go with this scientifically proven 2:1 combination, and you’ll feel the benefits from the first intake.
Studies And Research You Can Read About L-Citrulline
- One Week of L-Citrulline Supplementation Improves Performance in Trained Cyclists (The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2020)
- The effects on plasma L-arginine levels of combined oral L-citrulline and L-arginine supplementation in healthy males (Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 2017)
- The Effects of Oral l-Arginine and l-Citrulline Supplementation on Blood Pressure (Nutrients, 2019)
- Citrulline Malate Enhances Athletic Anaerobic Performance and Relieves Muscle Soreness (The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2010)
- Citrulline/malate promotes aerobic energy production in human exercising muscle (British journal of sports medicine, 2002)
Editor’s note: we are regularly updating this review. If you see any problems, weird interpretations of the data, or just want to say hi, please reach out to hello@the-unwinder.com.
