L Citrulline, like arginine, is an important amino acid since it can convert into nitric oxide. This nutrient is found in watermelon rind and less so in watermelon flesh, but I doubt consuming watermelon rind or eating watermelon fruit will have any significant sexual enhancing effect.
Sexual enhancement, better erections
If you are planning to use Citrulline pills as a way to enhance erectile
function, consider instead a
potent herbal sexual formula. Passion Rx with Yohimbe is much more potent than citrulline or
arginine in terms of libido and erectile function.
Mechanism of action, potential uses and benefits
l-citrulline is a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid, an
intermediate in urea cycle. It is a hydroxyl radical scavenger and a more
effective precursor of arginine and nitric oxide NO than arginine itself.
Supplementation is being tested in conditions like erectile dysfunction, sickle
cell anemia, short bowel syndrome (to restore nitrogen balance), cancer
chemotherapy, and urea cycle disorders.
Better erections with nitric oxide
Although citrulline is touted as a way to improve erections, there are more potent dietary
supplements that work for erectile dysfunction including catuaba, yohimbe, muira
puama,
LJ100
which is a Tongkat ali extract, panax ginseng, tribulus, and horny goat weed. If you really want to
enhance libido, sensation and sexual stamina,
Passion Rx with Yohimbe is one of your best
options.
Q. I read online about a product called citrulline malate used to increase
nitric oxide and wondered if you had any information about its effectiveness. I wondered if taken in the form of citrulline malate the results might be
different in terms of sexual enhancement or desire or erectile function.
A. As of 2016, I have seen one human research
regarding the role of citrulline malate supplements that found improved erectile function and
sexual
enhancement.
How
does citrulline supplement affect erections and sexual desire? How does
it affect the penis in the flaccid state since there is more nitric
oxide in the system.
Citrulline as a supplement works to increase nitric oxide
levels and could be of help for
erection enhancement or sexual desire improvement. Its use likely has a minor influence
on penis erection and is not as effective as a treatment for ED as prescription
medications.
Urology. 2011. Oral L-citrulline supplementation improves erection hardness in men with mild erectile dysfunction. To test the efficacy and safety of oral L-citrulline supplementation in improving erection hardness in patients with mild erectile dysfunction (ED). L-arginine supplementation improves nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation and endothelial function; however, oral administration has been hampered by extensive presystemic metabolism. In contrast, L-citrulline escapes presystemic metabolism and is converted to L-arginine, thus setting the rationale for oral L-citrulline supplementation as a donor for the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway of penile erection. In the present single-blind study, men with mild ED (erection hardness score of 3) received a placebo for 1 month and L-citrulline, 1.5 g/d, for another month. The erection hardness score, number of intercourses per month, treatment satisfaction, and adverse events were recorded. There was mild improvement in those who took the natural supplement.
Andrology (Los Angeles). 2015. Treatment with a combination of ginger, L-citrulline, muira puama and Paullinia cupana can reverse the progression of corporal smooth muscle loss, fibrosis and veno-occlusive dysfunction in the aging rat. Aging associated erectile dysfunction is characterized within the corpora by a progressive apoptosis of the smooth muscle cells and their replacement by collagen. Nitric oxide from iNOS has been shown to inhibit these histological changes in the corpora while PDE5 inhibitors as well as certain nutraceuticals such as ginger, paullinia cupana, muira puama and L-citrulline are known to enhance the effects of NO. We evaluated whether the daily oral administration for 2 months with a combination of ginger, paullinia cupana, muira puama and L-citrulline (COMP-4) can effectively delay the ongoing corporal fibrosis, smooth muscle cell apoptosis and cavernosal veno-occlusive dysfunction (CVOD) seen in middle aged rats similar to that seen with tadalafil. 10 Month old Fisher 344 rats were treated or not for two months with COMP-4, tadalafil or a combination of tadalafil plus COMP-4. CVOD was determined by dynamic infusion cavernosometry. Penile sections of the corpora cavernosa were subjected to Masson trichrome staining to evaluate fibrosis and immunohistochemistry for desmin as a marker of smooth muscle content and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) followed by image analysis. Oxidative stress levels were determined by GSH/GSSG ratio in whole blood. A decline in the non-treated rat's erectile function is evident by 10-12 months of age and is accompanied by a decrease in the corporal smooth muscle content determined by desmin expression and an increase in corporal fibrosis. The daily treatment for two months with COMP-4 reverses this process by reducing systemic oxidative stress and increasing desmin and iNOS expression, similar to that seen with tadalafil or the combination of COMP-4 plus tadalafil. An oral combination of ginger, muira puama, Paullinia cupana and L-citrulline seems to be as effective as daily PDE5 inhibitor therapy in either delaying or reversing the onset of the histological and functional characteristics of aging related erectile dysfunction.
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015. Combined L-citrulline and glutathione supplementation increases the concentration of markers indicative of nitric oxide synthesis. Nitric oxide (NO) is endogenously synthesized from L-arginine and L-citrulline. Due to its effects on nitric oxide synthase (NOS), reduced glutathione (GSH) may protect against the oxidative reduction of NO. The present study determined the effectiveness of L-citrulline and/or GSH on markers indicative of NO synthesis in in vivo conditions with rodents and humans and also in an in vitro condition. Combining L-citrulline with GSH augments increases in nitrite and NOx levels during in vitro and in vivo conditions.
Citrulline side effects, safety, is there a danger with
use?
I have not seen any reports in the medical literature regarding citrulline side effects and have not had any consumers email with such side
effects.
Watermelon content
Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine
concentrations in adults.
Nutrition. 2007. USDA-ARS, South Central
Agricultural Research Laboratory, Lane, Oklahoma, USA.
Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline. No detailed studies have been
conducted to evaluate plasma arginine response in humans after long-term feeding
of citrulline from natural plant sources. This study investigated if watermelon
juice consumption increases fasting concentrations of plasma arginine, ornithine,
and citrulline in healthy adult humans. Subjects consumed a controlled diet and
0 (control), 780, or 1560 g of watermelon juice per day for 3 weeks in a
crossover design. The treatments provided 1 and 2 gram of citrulline per day.
Compared with the baseline, fasting plasma arginine concentrations increased 12%
after 3 wk of the lower-dose watermelon treatment; arginine and ornithine
concentrations increased 22% and 18%, respectively, after 3 wk of the
higher-dose watermelon treatment. Fasting citrulline concentrations did not
increase relative to the control but remained stable throughout the study. The
increased fasting plasma concentrations of arginine and ornithine and stable
concentrations of plasma citrulline in response to watermelon juice consumption
indicated that the citrulline from this plant origin was effectively converted
into arginine.
Does watermelon have effects
similar to Viagra?
In 2008 the media made a big story of watermelon having Viagra-like
effects since watermelon contains a substance called citrulline which converts
into the amino acid arginine. Arginine helps dilate blood vessels. Because of
this biochemical connection, Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas
A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center was quoted saying, "Arginine boosts
nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra
has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it." Well, this is all
the media needed to hype this story. But, does eating watermelon flesh or rind
have any sexual enhancing effects? I love watermelon, it is one of my favorite
foods. I actually love the combination of watermelon and feta cheese. I have
been known to eat half a large watermelon at one sitting. I have not noticed any
Viagra-like effects from eating watermelon or drinking watermelon juice. I have
also tried citrulline supplements and arginine supplements and have not noticed
much of an effect on erectile function. Even if citrulline and arginine dilate
blood vessels, their effects are brief.
According to Bhimu Patil, more citrulline - about 60 percent - is
found in watermelon rind than in the flesh.
Blood flow, dilation of blood vessels
Research on this topic is no always consistent
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017. Effect of acute nitrate and citrulline supplementation on muscle microvascular response to ischemia-reperfusion in healthy humans.Nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in vasomotor control mechanisms altering the diameter of the vessels under various physiological and pathological conditions. There are two main NO production pathways, one NO synthase (NOS) independent (nitrate-nitrite-NO) and the other is NOS dependent (citrulline-arginine-NO). The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of acute nitrate and citrulline supplementation on post ischemic vascular response in healthy subjects. Fourteen subjects performed two leg vascular occlusion tests, 3 days apart. They were randomly assigned to consume a drink containing 1200 mg of nitrate and 6 g of citrulline (N+C) or a placebo (Pl). Changes in total hemoglobin (Hbtot) and oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) concentrations were recorded by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on the thigh and calf muscles. No differences between N+C and Pl were observed during the ischemic period. Hbtot increased to a larger extent during the reperfusion period for the thigh and the calf in the N+C versus Pl condition. Similar results were found regarding HbO2 for the thigh and the calf. The larger post-occlusive Hbtot and HbO2 responses observed after N+C intake suggests a greater post-ischemic vasodilation which may be due to increased NO availability, via the activation of the two main NO production pathways.
This study shows no improvement
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2014. Citrulline does not enhance blood flow,
microvascular circulation, or myofibrillar protein synthesis in elderly men at
rest or following exercise. Aging is associated with anabolic resistance, a
reduced sensitivity of myofibrillar protein synthesis (MPS) to postprandial
hyperaminoacidemia, particularly with low protein doses. Impairments in
postprandial skeletal muscle blood flow and/or microvascular perfusion with
hyperaminoacidemia and hyperinsulinemia may contribute to anabolic resistance.
We examined whether providing citrulline, a precursor for arginine and nitric
oxide synthesis, would increase arterial blood flow, skeletal muscle
microvascular perfusion, MPS, and signaling through mTORC1. Twenty-one elderly
males (65-80 yr) completed acute unilateral resistance exercise prior to being
assigned to ingest a high dose (45 g) of whey protein (WHEY) or a low dose (15
g) of whey protein with 10 g of citrulline (WHEY + CIT) or with 10 g of
nonessential amino acids (WHEY + NEAA).
Diabetics
I have no reason to believe that citrulline and arginine would
not be safe when used in low dosages by a person with diabetes.
Exercise, physical performance
J Sports Sci. 2014 Dec 17. The effect of l-citrulline and watermelon juice
supplementation on anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance. A single dose of
l-citrulline or watermelon juice as a pre-exercise supplement appears to be
ineffective in improving exercise performance.
Hypertension
Email - I read in Science Daily about citruline from watermelon
being good for hypertension. FSU Assistant Professor Arturo Figueroa
and Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi found that when six grams of the amino acid L-citrulline
/ L-arginine from watermelon extract was administered daily for six weeks, there
was improved arterial function and consequently lowered aortic blood pressure in
all nine of their prehypertensive subjects (four men and five postmenopausal
women, ages 51-57).
Response: It would help to see additional studies to determine whether the
results are consistent and what the required dosage would be.
Content in foods
Citrulline is found in high concentrations
in watermelon rind and flesh. it is also present in other curcubits,
like cucumbers and cantaloupe, at very low levels, and in the milk protein
casein. The highest concentrations are found in walnut seedlings.
Information on Arginine,
Citrulline, and Ornithine
The kidney plays a major role in arginine amino
acid metabolism in 3 principal ways: arginine synthesis, creatine synthesis, and arginine reabsorption. Appreciable
quantities of arginine are synthesized in the kidney from citrulline produced by
the intestine. The rate of arginine synthesis depends on citrulline delivery and does
not appear to be regulated by dietary arginine availability. Renal arginine
synthesis in humans produces approximately 2 g /d, which may be compared
to an intake, from a Western diet, of approximately 4 to 5 g/d. Spontaneous,
nonenzymatic breakdown of creatine and creatine phosphate to creatinine causes
the excretion of 1 to 2 g creatinine/d and requires the replacement of an
equivalent amount of creatine from the diet and by endogenous synthesis. The
first enzyme of creatine biosynthesis, L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase,
occurs in the kidney and produces guanidinoacetate, which is released into the
renal vein. The renal output of guanidinoacetate, however, is rather low, and we
propose that the entire pathway of creatine synthesis may also occur in the
liver. Renal arginine reabsorption salvages approximately 3 g arginine/d. At the
apical membrane of proximal tubular cells, arginine shares a transporter with
lysine, ornithine, and cystine. Defects in this heteromeric transporter cause
cystinuria, which is also characterized by urinary loss of arginine, lysine, and
ornithine. Arginine amino acid is transported out of the proximal tubular cells at the
basolateral membrane by another heteromeric transporter, which also transports
lysine and ornithine. Defects in this transporter cause lysinuric protein
intolerance.
Citrulline malate supplement
Citrulline malate promotes aerobic energy production in
human exercising muscle.
Br J Sports Med. 2002.
To investigate the effects of citrulline malate supplementation on muscle
energetics. Eighteen men complaining of fatigue but with no documented disease
were included in the study. A rest-exercise (finger flexions)-recovery protocol
was performed twice before, three times during, and once after 15 days of oral
supplementation with 6 g/day citrulline malate. Citrulline malate ingestion resulted in a significant
reduction in the sensation of fatigue, a 34% increase in the rate of oxidative
ATP production during exercise, and a 20% increase in the rate of
phosphocreatine recovery after exercise, indicating a larger contribution of
oxidative ATP synthesis to energy production. The changes in muscle metabolism
produced by citrulline malate treatment indicate that it may
promote aerobic energy production.
Combining arginine with citrulline
I am a healthy 71 year old married man experiencing some reduction of
erectile function. I have been taking two 750 mg L-Arginine capsules per day,
one in the morning and one in the evening, and my perception is that this does
provide some improvement. I can usually function sexually several times per
month without resorting to Cialis or Viagra, but I'm not as reliable as I used
to be most of my life. I tried using your Passion Rx product and used a 30 day
supply, following the directions of taking one every other day. Frankly, I
couldn't notice any effect at all with this product. I have recently read
articles regarding the combination of L-citruline and L-Arginine indicating that
this combination seems to have significantly more effect than L-Arginine alone.
However, I don't find any guideline for dosages of these amino acid products. Do
you have any advice regarding the combination?
At present we don't have any research on anecdotes
on the combination of arginine and citrulline.
We have about an 80 % response rate to Passion Rx, we wish it was higher but for
some reason some people don't respond while others notice significant benefit
with even a third of a capsule. Some people who don't respond to Passion Rx
respond to Prostate Power Rx, but this is not consistent either. Studies show
Viagra and Cialis have about a 60 to 70 percent response rate.
How is L-citrulline ethyl ester HCl different clinically?
I have not seen any studies comparing L-Citrulline Ethyl Ester
HCl to plain citrulline, so not much can be said at this time.
Does
taking them together help them work better in the body? If so which one
should I take more of or is arginine effective when taken alone? Which one is
better when converting to nitric oxide in the body
The best way to find out is to try each one alone and
together in varying dosages. There's not enough human research to know whether
one works better than the other or whether the combination is more effective. I
have not seen comparison studies to know which one converts better and longer to
nitric oxide.
This is a question to add to the various information
and questions and answers on your website concerning these two amino acids. Does
Dr. Sahelian have any specific reaction to the substantial comments on this
subject by Louis J. Agnarro, PhD, who I understand won the Nobel Prize for
Medicine in 1998 for his research into nitric acid. I saw his comments on pages
485-6 of Bottom Line Publication's 2006 expanded edition of "The World's
Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets." The comments in summary were that nitric
acid helps prevent heart disease and stroke by expanding blood vessels,
controlling platelet function, reducing arterial plaque by 50%, and lowering
total cholesteral by 10% to 20%. And that it is hard to get sufficient l-arginine
from food so supplements are recommended that will increase production of nitric
acid in blood vessels. L-arginine is recommended at a dosage of 2000 to 3000 mg
taken twice daily for a total of 4000 to 6000 mg, and L-citrulline is
recommended at a dosage of 400 to 600 mg daily (the L-citrulline is needed
because supplemental arginine doesn't enter cells readily unless combined with
it). Dr. Ignarro also recommends a daily multivitamin that includes
about 50 IU of vitamin E, and 500 mg of vitamin C, and aerobic exercise and
minimized intake of saturated fat and more fiber. Dr. Sahalian's reaction to Dr.
Ignarro's specifics would be much appreciated.
Studies with the use of arginine and citrulline supplements
have not shown consistent results in terms of their benefit for cardiovascular
disease, therefore, at this time, it is difficult to say for certain whether the
regular use of these supplements for prolonged periods will have long lasting
health benefits. The use of small amounts of vitamin E complex and a few hundred
mg of vitamin C are reasonable.
Now Foods, L-Citrulline, 750 mg, 180 Capsules
Buy Citrulline pill or powder or Arginine
Supplement Facts | ||
Serving Size: 2 Capsules | ||
Servings Per Container: 90 | ||
Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value | |
L-Citrulline | 1.5 g (1,500 mg) | * |
* Daily Value not established. |
Buy Citrulline product on sale