Citrulline malate supplementation does not improve German Volume Training performance or reduce muscle soreness in moderately trained males and females

Andrew J Chappell,Daniel M Allwood,Samantha Brown,Kiran Sultana,Trevor Simper,Rebecca Johns,Annie Anand

doi:10.1186/s12970-018-0245-8

Andrew J Chappell, Daniel M Allwood + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0245-8

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Abstract

BackgroundUse of supplements to aid performance is common practice amongst recreationally active individuals, including those without a sufficient evidence base. This investigation sought to assess whether acute supplementation with 8 g of citrulline malate (CM) (1.11: 1 ratio) would improve anaerobic performance.MethodsA randomised double blind placebo control trial was employed, using a counterbalanced design. We recruited recreationally active men and women to take part in an isokinetic chair protocol, based on German Volume Training (GVT) whereby participants attempted to perform 10 sets of 10 repetitions against a force representing 70% of their peak concentric force.ResultsThe number of repetitions achieved over the course of the GVT was 94.0 ± 7.9 and 90.9 ± 13.9 for placebo and CM respectively. There was no significant difference between the placebo and CM treatment for number of repetitions (P = 0.33), isometric (P = 0.60), concentric (P = 0.38), or eccentric (P = 0.65) peak force following the GVT. Total muscle soreness was significantly higher in the CM compared to the placebo treatment following the GVT protocol over 72 h (P = 0.01); although this was not accompanied by a greater workload/number of repetitions in the CM group.ConclusionsWe conclude that an acute dose of CM does not significantly affect anaerobic performance using an isokinetic chair in recreational active participants. Practical implications include precaution in recommending CM supplementation. Coaches and athletes should be aware of the disparity between the chemical analyses of the products reviewed in the present investigation versus the manufacturers’ claims.

Highlights

Use of supplements to aid performance is common practice amongst recreationally active individuals, including those without a sufficient evidence base
The dietary intake from the 24-h recall is presented in Table 2, there was no significant difference for macronutrient or energy intake between treatment conditions
citrulline malate (CM) was effective in retaining muscle power measured by counter measure jump in runners following a marathon Martinez-Sanchez et al [29] but not at retaining peak power following maximal cycle sprints in well-trained cyclists, [20] these results suggest the effectiveness of CM to retain power may be dependent exercise modality

Summary

Introduction

Use of supplements to aid performance is common practice amongst recreationally active individuals, including those without a sufficient evidence base. This investigation sought to assess whether acute supplementation with 8 g of citrulline malate (CM) (1.11: 1 ratio) would improve anaerobic performance. The ensuing conversion of AS to ARG by argininosuccinatelyase results in the formation of fumarate an intermediate in the citric acid cycle [8]. The conversion of citrulline to ARG via AS is thought to be the rate limiting step in the NO cycle [9], and supplementing with CM has been demonstrated to increase blood ARG and ornithine [10, 11]. Arginine itself is a known vasodilator and CM indirectly increases vasodilation and production of nitrogen oxygen synthase (NOS) in response to supplementation, which may have a performance enhancing effect [11, 13]

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