The Claim

A single 500 mL dose of L-citrulline-enriched watermelon juice containing 3.45 g L-citrulline significantly increases plasma L-arginine concentration immediately after a half-marathon in amateur male runners, with a 27% higher level compared to placebo.

Source: Biochemical, physiological, and performance response of a functional watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline during a half-marathon race

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
61score
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

Amateur male runners who drink 500 mL of L-citrulline-enriched watermelon juice containing 3.45 g L-citrulline after a half-marathon have 27% higher plasma L-arginine levels immediately afterward than those who drink a placebo.

See the scientific wording

A single 500 mL dose of L-citrulline-enriched watermelon juice (3.45 g L-citrulline) significantly increases plasma L-arginine concentration immediately after a half-marathon in amateur male runners, with a 27% higher level compared to placebo.

Why this might work

When a person drinks L-citrulline-enriched watermelon juice, the L-citrulline is absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream and carried to the liver, where it is converted into L-arginine. This raises the amount of L-arginine in the blood right after intense exercise.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Biochemical, physiological, and performance response of a functional watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline during a half-marathon race

    The study found that runners who drank this special watermelon juice had 27% more L-arginine in their blood right after running a half-marathon than those who drank a plain drink — exactly what the claim says.

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

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