Taking 8 grams of citrulline malate daily for four days raises blood levels of citrulline slightly, but not enough to be considered a reliable or significant change in resistance-trained men.
Evidence from Studies
No evidence studies found yet.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Whether citrulline malate consistently elevates plasma citrulline levels across doses, durations, and populations, and whether this correlates with performance outcomes.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of all RCTs measuring plasma citrulline levels after citrulline malate ingestion (any dose, duration) in healthy or trained adults, with standardized timing of blood draws and reporting of mean differences and confidence intervals.
Whether 8g/day citrulline malate for four days reliably increases plasma citrulline levels in resistance-trained males.
A double-blind RCT with 50+ resistance-trained males aged 18–40, randomized to 8g/day citrulline malate or placebo for four days, with blood samples drawn at baseline, 1h, 2h, and 4h post-dose on day 4, measuring plasma citrulline via HPLC, powered to detect a 20% increase.
Whether habitual citrulline malate use is associated with higher baseline plasma citrulline levels in resistance-trained individuals.
A prospective cohort measuring plasma citrulline levels in 100+ resistance-trained adults who self-report daily citrulline malate use (≥4g/day) versus non-users, with blood drawn under standardized fasting conditions.
Whether individuals who use citrulline malate have higher average plasma citrulline levels than non-users in a general resistance-training population.
A cross-sectional study measuring plasma citrulline in 200+ resistance-trained adults, categorized by self-reported supplement use (yes/no, dose, duration), with blood drawn under standardized conditions.
Whether rare individuals exhibit unusually high citrulline responses to low-dose supplementation.
A case series documenting 5–10 resistance-trained individuals who show exceptionally high plasma citrulline levels after 4g/day citrulline malate, with detailed metabolic and genetic profiling.