Citrulline: the Best Blood Supplement

In this post we are going to talk about citrulline, a key nutrient for the heart that has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, widen blood vessels, improve erectile function and increase muscle mass.

Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid synthesized from arginine or the nitrogen contained in L-glutamine. It acts as an intermediary in the synthesis of arginine (kidneys).

Citrulline malate is the typical form currently used in the supplement industry, it is the combination of L-citrulline and malic acid. Citrulline was first discovered in watermelon . It is popularly the richest food in the nutrient. In addition, the consumption of watermelon increases the levels of arginine and citrulline. Citrulline is extracted from the skin of the watermelon to create supplements of this amino acid in concentrated form. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an exogenous source of citrulline. In this fruit, this substance is found in abundance. It is also found in vegetables such as onions and garlic, and in protein foods such as fish, meat, legumes and milk.

How does citrulline work?

Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that is formed inside the mitochondria from ornithine or glutamine. Once citrulline is formed, it leaves the mitochondria to continue the cycle to form arginine and finally urea.

Citrulline and the circulatory system

The endothelium is a key organ . We are referring to the largest organ in the human body, which is the set of cells that line the inside of each and every one of our veins, arteries and capillaries . We have more than 10 billion of them, in every corner of the body. It covers an area of ​​a football field: between 4000 and 7000 m and weighs 1 kg . The endothelium performs many basic functions and its damage can seriously harm health . Knowledge of an alteration of the endothelium would facilitate the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases, although clinically, endothelial damage is very difficult to assess. Because it performs so many functions, it is involved in, if not all, then most of the diseases that we may suffer throughout our lives.

In addition to these cells, there are fibers called GLYCOCALYX in the veins and arteries. These fibers are the “flora” of the veins and arteries .

Properties of citrulline

1. Protects the endothelium

Citrulline is a powerful protector of the endothelium, as it increases the levels of vasodilatory substances, such as nitric oxide, preventing premature aging of veins and arteries.

Citrulline increases blood arginine levels, helping to lower blood pressure and improve blood perfusion in the muscles of older adults, improving their physical activity. It promotes cardiovascular health , is an antioxidant , and improves blood flow and sexual capacity in both men and women.

2. Cardiovascular health

It promotes cardiovascular health , due to its antioxidant action, and improves blood flow and sexual capacity in both men and women.

Research focuses on treatment for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, mood enhancement and Alzheimer's.

Citrulline can penetrate the kidney, liver and vascular lining and is converted to arginine, which enhances nitric oxide production and activity.

Nitric oxide is a gaseous signaling molecule that is crucial for proper blood circulation and heart function.

LOUIS IGNARRO, NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE IN 1998, dedicated more than 30 years of research to discovering the benefits of nitric oxides in preventing and reversing cardiovascular diseases.

L-arginine and L-citrulline play an important role in increasing the production of nitric oxide (a chemical or a molecule, you can call it a hormone present in the body that protects us from cardiovascular diseases.) along with vitamins, physical exercise and diet.

Coronary artery disease occurs when there is impaired blood flow to the heart. When people develop atherosclerosis or high cholesterol, it can lead to plaque forming in the arteries, and as those plaques grow and grow, they can obstruct blood flow…. If the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the heart is decreased, it is because the heart is not receiving enough blood or oxygen and as a result, heart attacks occur.

3. Good intestinal absorption

Citrulline is readily absorbed by the intestine , with a wide array of transporters capable of removing it from the lumen of enterocytes.

Like arginine, citrulline protects the integrity of the intestinal barrier . In fact, citrulline is converted to arginine in the body. What’s more, as a supplement, it may be even more effective than arginine . Why? The liver is very efficient at removing arginine from the blood. However, it’s not as efficient when it comes to citrulline. This means that, when taken as a supplement, citrulline can actually raise blood arginine levels even more than arginine supplements.

Citrulline is well absorbed at the intestinal level, easily crosses the body's barriers, and reaches the blood to be metabolized by the kidneys. There, it is transformed into arginine .

CITRULLINE AND THE SMALL INTESTINE Citrulline, a non-protein amino acid, is an important source of endogenous arginine . The intestine is the main source of citrulline in humans. Therefore, citrulline is a potential biomarker of small intestine function, a marker of intestinal absorption. In contrast, absorption of citrulline by the intestine is important for oral delivery of this amino acid as an alternative to arginine.

4. Arginine levels increase

Citrulline produces an increase in the levels of arginine , a non-essential amino acid, although it can become essential in times of acute or chronic stress. Arginine is an important component of collagen and contributes to intestinal health. In addition, citrulline also increases nitric oxide in the blood, which means more oxygenation.

5. Muscle growth

Citrulline is an amino acid, one of the “building blocks” that our body uses to maintain a healthy balance. It therefore plays a particularly important role in forming new muscle proteins and replenishing arginine reserves.

Muscle growth : Citrulline induces an increase in blood flow to the muscles, promoting an increase in muscle mass and could lead to greater bone density.

Sports performance: Increased blood flow allows for increased sports performance in older adults. It also supports post-workout recovery. (These benefits do not extend to young, healthy people.)

6. Dementia

At a therapeutic level, it has a use for the treatment of dementia or mental disorder that hinders thinking , speaking and even movement .

In these cases, its use has REPORTED FORMIDABLE RESULTS.

7. Convalescence

Citrulline is a pharmaconutrient, capable of being transformed into compounds of vital importance for the body.

In supplement form, it would especially benefit people who are sick or in the process of convalescence. It serves as a nutritional supplement in people with low levels of amino acids.

8. Improves sexual capacity

Promotes blood flow, increases oxygenation through arginine, and improves the sexual capacity of both men and women ADULTS (NATURAL VIAGRA)

When to take citrulline Doses greater than 1-1.5 grams should be divided into two or three doses per day.

Athletes: one or two hours before sports activity.

How to take citrulline

For convenience, doses can be taken during the three main meals, as food does not affect the absorption of this supplement, although it can also be used outside of meals.

Citrulline dosage

In the field of supplementation, doses of citrulline ranging from 1 to 10 grams per day are used.

In the following table you will find the recommended dosage depending on your goals.

It is not recommended to use this supplement for more than six months at a time due to possible cellular adaptation to the effects of this supplement which could be harmful in the long term.

Citrulline is a safe supplement (even at high doses) for a limited period of time.

CITRULLINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN:

• Pregnant women.
• Breastfeeding period.
• Under 18 years old.
• Chronically ill.
• Patients who are going to undergo surgical operations.