| Summary: | Citrulline is a precursor of arginine prior to the conversion to nitric oxide. It is believed that L-citrulline intake may increase anaerobic performance in non-athletes. The present study examines the influence of acute citrulline-malate supplementation on maximal isometric handgrip strength, Wingate anaerobic cycling and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in well-trained combat athletes. Twelve athletes consisting of 7 men and 5 women judokas participated in this study (age: 28.2 ± 4.4 years, mass: 71.3 ± 7.4 kg, height: 165.8 ± 5.6 cm, training experience: 8.4 ± 5.1 years and training volume: 7.5 ± 1.9 hour·week-1). In a double-blind, randomised and crossover design, all measurements were conducted an hour after participants had orally ingested citrulline-malate (citrulline-malate; 8 g maltodextrin + 250 mg·kg-1 citrulline-malate) and the placebo (8 g maltodextrin) separated by a 10-day washout period. Citrulline-malate increases relative peak power as compared to the placebo (citrulline-malate: 10.6 ± 1.6 vs. placebo: 10.1 ± 1.2 Watts·kg-1; p=0.02). A significant increase can be seen in the average grip strength when citrulline-malate is used as compared to the placebo (citrulline-malate: 34.1 ± 2.2 vs. placebo: 32.0 ± 3.1 kg; p<0.01). The resting fractional exhaled nitric oxide is also significantly greater compared to the placebo (citrulline-malate: 44.1 ± 2.2 vs. placebo: 32.0 ± 3.1 parts per billion; p=0.02). This result indicates that acute citrulline-malate supplementation can enhance anaerobic performance, likely through the improvement in nitric oxide. It has ergogenic potential for combat athletes. © 2022, Editura Universitatii din Pitesti. All rights reserved.
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