The Claim

In male sub-elite badminton players, daily supplementation with 2.4 grams of L-citrulline for seven days produces a moderate improvement in anaerobic endurance at 24 hours post-supplementation but does not produce a sustained improvement in anaerobic endurance at 72 hours post-supplementation.

Source: The effect of citrulline on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and aerobic and anaerobic endurance in sub elite athletes

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
67score
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.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

When male sub-elite badminton players take 2.4 grams of L-citrulline daily for seven days, their anaerobic endurance improves moderately at 24 hours after the last dose, but this improvement is not present at 72 hours after the last dose.

See the scientific wording

In male sub-elite badminton players, 2.4 grams of daily L-citrulline supplementation for seven days produces a moderate improvement in anaerobic endurance at 24 hours post-supplementation but no sustained benefit at 72 hours, suggesting transient or inconsistent effects on short-duration power output.

Why this might work

L-citrulline is turned into arginine in the kidneys, which the body uses to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide opens up blood vessels, letting more oxygen and nutrients reach the muscles while flushing out waste products like ammonia and lactate. This keeps muscles working harder for longer during short bursts of intense activity, but the effect fades after a few days as the body adjusts.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: The effect of citrulline on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and aerobic and anaerobic endurance in sub elite athletes

    Taking citrulline for a week gave these badminton players a short burst of extra power after 24 hours, but that boost was gone by 72 hours — just like the claim said.

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

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