Citrulline malate supplementation does not improve German Volume Training performance or reduce muscle soreness in moderately trained males and females

Study answer

What this study found

Citrulline malate did not improve German Volume Training performance or recovery, and muscle soreness was greater than with placebo. Total repetitions were 90.9 ± 13.9 with citrulline malate versus 94.0 ± 7.9 with placebo (P = 0.33), and maximal force production was not significantly different, including isometric force (P = 0.60). Blood lactate also did not differ meaningfully: pre-GVT 1.69 ± 1.07 mmol/l versus 1.45 ± 0.54 mmol/l (P = 0.53), post-GVT 4.31 ± 1.31 mmol/l versus 4.16 ± 1.34 mmol/l (P = 0.72), and change in lactate 2.51 ± 1.53 mmol/l versus 2.87 ± 1.25 mmol/l (P = 0.48). Total…

Study & population

This was a randomized double blind placebo crossover study in healthy recreationally active adults who had followed structured resistance training at least twice weekly for at least 6 months.

Intervention

Participants consumed a single 8 g dose of citrulline malate 1.11:1 ratio (4.21 g citrulline, 3.79 g malate) as a beverage mixed with 70 ml fruit cordial and 150 ml water, taken within 5 min about 1 hour before German Volume Training.

Key limitation

The study was small and acute, with only 15 completers in the citrulline malate arm and a single pre-exercise dose tested.

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Original abstract