The Effect of Citrulline Malate Supplementation on Muscle Fatigue Among Healthy Participants

Farney, TM, Bliss, MV, Hearon, CM, and Salazar, DA. The effect of citrulline malate supplementation on muscle fatigue among healthy participants. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2464-2470, 2019-The focus of the investigation was to examine the effects of citrulline malate (CM) on muscular fatigue in healthy, recreationally trained participants. Twelve participants (men = 6 and women = 6) (24.1 ± 3.9 years) visited the laboratory on 3 separate days, all separated by 1 week. Each visit consisted of consuming 1 of 3 treatments: placebo, CM (8 g), and control in which no drink mixture was consumed. For each day of testing, participants consumed assigned treatment and performed 1 high-intensity exercise trial consisting of squats, lunge jumps, squat jumps, and lateral jumps. Participants performed the exercises in the listed order, which was designated as 1 round. Each participant performed 3 rounds, with the work-to-rest ratio being 20 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest. A 1-minute rest was given between rounds. A pre/post-exercise isokinetic leg extension test was performed to measure for peak power, peak torque, and rate of fatigue. In addition, blood lactate was obtained pre/post-exercise. There were no treatment or interaction effects (p > 0.05) for peak torque, peak power, rate of fatigue, or blood lactate accumulation. However, there was a statistical significant decrease from pre/post-exercise for peak torque (p = 0.003), peak power (p = 0.003), and rate of fatigue (p = 0.001). In addition, lactate accumulation did increase significantly from pre/post-exercise (p = 0.0001). Finally, neither total work nor final heart rate was statistically significant between the treatments (p > 0.05). Citrulline malate was not effective in improving performance or alleviating fatigue after a high-intensity exercise session.