The Claim
Citrulline consumption before exercise reduces muscle soreness 72 hours after exercise.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Taking citrulline before working out results in less muscle soreness 72 hours after the workout.
See the scientific wording
Citrulline consumption before exercise reduces muscle soreness 72 hours post-exercise.
Citrulline is converted into arginine, which the body uses to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide opens up blood vessels, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach muscles and helping remove waste products. This reduces stress on muscle cells during exercise, limits the buildup of harmful substances like ammonia and lactate, and speeds up repair of damaged tissue, resulting in less soreness three days later.
What the research says
3 studiesPeople who took citrulline before working out felt significantly less muscle soreness three days later than those who took a placebo, according to this study.
People who drank a special watermelon juice with citrulline before running a half-marathon felt much less muscle soreness three days later than those who drank a plain drink. So yes, citrulline before exercise helps reduce soreness afterward.
Taking citrulline before working out made muscles less sore 12 and 24 hours after, which suggests it might help even longer—but the study didn’t check if it still worked at 72 hours.
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Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 3 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.