The Claim
Acute supplementation with 0.15 g/kg L-arginine and 0.1 g/kg citrulline malate has no significant effect on aerobic endurance, anaerobic power output, or CrossFit performance in healthy, trained men.
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 a single dose of 0.15 grams per kilogram of L-arginine and 0.1 grams per kilogram of citrulline malate does not improve aerobic endurance, anaerobic power, or CrossFit performance in healthy, trained men.
See the scientific wording
Acute supplementation with 0.15 g/kg L-arginine and 0.1 g/kg citrulline malate does not significantly improve aerobic endurance, anaerobic power output, or CrossFit performance in healthy, trained men, suggesting that this specific dosing regimen is unlikely to enhance exercise capacity in this population under acute conditions.
When taken together, L-arginine and citrulline malate increase the amount of arginine in the blood, which the body uses to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow to muscles. This should improve oxygen and nutrient delivery during exercise, but in trained men, this increased blood flow does not lead to better endurance, power, or performance in high-intensity workouts.
What the research says
1 studyTaking this specific combo of supplements before a workout didn't make trained men stronger, faster, or more enduring in CrossFit, sprints, or cardio tests—except they got to their top speed a bit quicker on a bike, but didn't pedal harder or longer. So overall, the supplement didn't help much.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.