Citrulline Malate Does Not Improve Muscle Recovery after Resistance Exercise in Untrained Young Adult Men.

Douglas K Da Silva,Jeferson L Jacinto,Mario C W Balvedi,Mirela C Roveratti,Douglas B De Oliveira,Walquiria B De Andrade,José M Estoche,Rubens A Da Silva,Rubens A Da Silva,Andreo F Aguiar

doi:10.3390/nu9101132

Douglas K Da Silva, Jeferson L Jacinto + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9101132

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Abstract

The effects of citrulline malate (CM) on muscle recovery from resistance exercise remains unknown. We aimed to determine if citrulline malate supplementation improves muscle recovery after a single session of high-intensity resistance exercise (RE) in untrained young adult men. Nine young adult men (24.0 ± 3.3 years) participated in a double-blind crossover study in which they received 6 g of CM and placebo (PL) on two occasions, separated by a seven-day washout period. Each occasion consisted of a single session of high-intensity RE (0 h) and three subsequent fatigue tests sessions (at 24, 48, and 72 h) to assess the time course of muscle recovery. During the tests sessions, we assessed the following variables: number of maximum repetitions, electromyographic signal (i.e., root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF)), muscle soreness and perceived exertion, as well as blood levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate, insulin, and testosterone:cortisol ratio. CK levels increased at 24 h post-exercise and remained elevate at 48 and 72 h, with no difference between CM and PL conditions. Muscle soreness increased at 24 h post-exercise, which progressively returned to baseline at 72 h in both conditions. Lactate levels increased immediately post-exercise and remained elevated at 24, 48, and 72 h in both conditions. No significant treatment × time interaction was found for all dependents variables (maximum repetitions, perceived exertion, CK, lactate, RMS, MF, and testosterone:cortisol ratio) during the recovery period. In conclusion, our data indicate that CM supplementation (single 6 g dose pre-workout) does not improve the muscle recovery process following a high-intensity RE session in untrained young adult men.

Highlights

Nutritional supplementation is a common strategy used by athletes and recreationally active adults to improve physical performance and muscle recovery
2), according to the recommendations proposed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) [20]. to the recommendations proposed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) [20]
No significant difference in the daily dietary intake were observed between T1 and T2 moments, and all participants had adequate protein (>1.2 g/kg/day) and CHO (>3 g/kg/day) intake during the study period, according to the recommendations proposed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) [20]

Summary

Introduction

Nutritional supplementation is a common strategy used by athletes and recreationally active adults to improve physical performance and muscle recovery. Given that L-arginine is the main substrate for synthesis of NO, an important modulator of blood flow [12], it has been suggested that oral CM supplementation may indirectly increase NO synthesis [6] and increase blood flow to active muscles. In this way, CM supplementation could contribute to increase nutrient delivery and/or clearance of waste products [13,14] such as plasma lactate and ammonia, thereby improving muscle function [15]

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