The Claim

Ingestion of 8 grams of citrulline-malate increases the number of repetitions performed to failure during upper-body resistance exercises by 13.3% in chin-ups, 20.7% in reverse chin-ups, and 9.8% in push-ups compared to placebo in trained males.

Source: Effects of Supplemental Citrulline-Malate Ingestion on Blood Lactate, Cardiovascular Dynamics, and Resistance Exercise Performance in Trained Males

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
48score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Taking 8 grams of citrulline-malate before upper-body workouts increases the number of repetitions a trained male can perform to failure in chin-ups, reverse chin-ups, and push-ups compared to taking a placebo.

See the scientific wording

Ingestion of 8 grams of citrulline-malate significantly increases the number of repetitions performed during upper-body resistance exercises to failure in trained males, with improvements of 13.3% in chin-ups, 20.7% in reverse chin-ups, and 9.8% in push-ups compared to placebo, suggesting a direct ergogenic effect on muscular endurance in this population.

Why this might work

Citrulline-malate gets converted into arginine, which the body uses to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide opens up blood vessels in the muscles, letting more oxygen and nutrients flow in while removing waste products like lactic acid faster. This keeps the muscles working longer before they tire out during repeated lifts.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Effects of Supplemental Citrulline-Malate Ingestion on Blood Lactate, Cardiovascular Dynamics, and Resistance Exercise Performance in Trained Males

    Taking 8 grams of citrulline-malate before working out helped trained men do more push-ups, chin-ups, and reverse chin-ups before getting tired, compared to when they took a placebo. The improvement was real and statistically significant.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.