Does eating citrulline make your body build more protein?
Oral citrulline does not affect whole body protein metabolism in healthy human volunteers: results of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, cross-over study.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Citrulline raised plasma arginine (a known nitric oxide precursor) but didn’t increase urinary nitrate or alter protein metabolism.
Many believe citrulline boosts nitric oxide and muscle growth via arginine—but here, even with higher arginine, no downstream metabolic changes occurred.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a healthy adult taking citrulline for muscle growth, this study suggests it won't improve protein synthesis or nitrogen balance.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Citrulline raised plasma arginine (a known nitric oxide precursor) but didn’t increase urinary nitrate or alter protein metabolism.
Many believe citrulline boosts nitric oxide and muscle growth via arginine—but here, even with higher arginine, no downstream metabolic changes occurred.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a healthy adult taking citrulline for muscle growth, this study suggests it won't improve protein synthesis or nitrogen balance.
Publication
Journal
Clinical nutrition
Year
2011
Authors
R. Thibault, L. Flet, F. Vavasseur, M. Lemerle, V. Ferchaud-Roucher, D. Picot, D. Darmaun
Related Content
Claims (4)
Eating certain foods or supplements like L-citrulline or nitrate-rich vegetables can help your body make more nitric oxide, a molecule that helps your blood vessels relax and work better.
Taking a specific amount of citrulline powder every day for a week makes certain amino acids go up in your blood, but it doesn’t change how your body builds or breaks down protein when you haven’t just eaten.
Taking citrulline pills every day for a week at a specific dose doesn't help your body hold onto more protein, even if you're healthy and eating well.
Taking a specific amount of citrulline powder every day for a week can raise levels of certain amino acids in your blood, but it doesn’t change other important blood or urine markers like insulin or albumin.