The Study
The Effect of Citrulline/Malate on Blood Lactate Levels in Intensive Exercise
This study showed that when athletes took a special supplement, their muscles had less lactic acid after working out. But it didn't prove the supplement made them stronger or faster — just that one chemical in their blood changed.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Players took a daily pill with citrulline/malate for a month while training hard. Their blood lactate (a fatigue chemical) dropped more after exercise than in players who took a fake pill.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 546 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — lower lactate right after intense effort may mean less muscle burn and faster recovery, even if performance wasn't measured.
- 2After exercise, lactate dropped 60.7% more in the supplement group vs.
- 3placebo.
- 4During recovery, it dropped 49.8% only in the supplement group.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Biochemical Genetics
Year
2017
Authors
F. Kıyıcı, H. Eroğlu, N. Kishalı, G. Burmaoglu
Related Content
Claims (5)
Taking citrulline before working out leads to lower levels of lactate in the blood during prolonged exercise.
Taking citrulline and malate together lowers blood lactate levels more after intense exercise than without it, and this effect is strongest right after the workout ends.
Taking 3 grams of citrulline/malate daily for four weeks lowers blood lactate levels more during and after intense exercise in active handball players compared to a placebo, with a 60.7% greater reduction at peak exertion.
Taking citrulline/malate for four weeks lowers blood lactate levels by 49.8% during recovery after high-intensity exercise in active handball players, while a placebo has no effect.
Taking citrulline/malate supplements for four weeks does not change resting blood lactate levels in active handball players, meaning the supplement affects lactate only during exercise, not at rest.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.