Effects of citrulline on endurance performance in young healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Citrulline is a popular dietary supplement, primarily thought to exert ergogenic effects on exercise performance through the enhancement of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and ammonia buffering. However, recent findings surrounding citrulline's effect on endurance performance have been inconsistent. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relevant literature have yet to be undertaken. AIM: To determine if acute ingestion of citrulline has an ergogenic effect on endurance performance in young healthy adults. METHODS: A systematic search of three databases was undertaken to find peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English investigating the effects of citrulline supplementation on endurance performance in young healthy adults. Two independent investigators completed a three-phased screening procedure against pre-determined eligibility criteria. Included studies evaluated loading or bolus dosage regimes of citrulline in participants aged 18 or over that were at least recreationally active. Outcome measures focused on time-to-completion (TTC) or time-to-exhaustion (TTE) in continuous submaximal intensity exercise. Cochrane's Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool was used to assess the risk of bias in individual studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using a fixed-effects model to pool the weighted estimate of standardized mean differences (SMD) across studies. A chi-squared test assessed heterogeneity between studies. This review was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Nine studies (n = 158 participants) met the eligibility criteria; five reported TTE outcomes (I2 = 0%, χ2 = 0.37, df = 4, P = 0.99) and four reported TTC outcomes (I2 = 0%, χ2 = 0.46, df = 3, P = 0.93), both with a low between-study heterogeneity. The results of the meta-analyses showed no significant difference in the endurance performance measures, TTE (pooled SMD = 0.03 [-0.27, 0.33]) and TTC (pooled SMD = -0.07 [-0.50, 0.15]), after acute ingestion of citrulline supplementation or a control in young healthy adults. DISCUSSION: The current evidence suggests no significant benefit of citrulline supplementation for endurance performance. However, the small evidence base requires further research to fully evaluate this topic. Recommendations include a focus on female populations; higher continuous doses of citrulline over seven days; and TTC outcome measures over longer distances to simulate competition.

The effect of 1,3-butanediol and carbohydrate supplementation on running performance.

OBJECTIVES: Ingested ketogenic agents offer the potential to enhance endurance performance via the provision of an alternative exogenous, metabolically efficient, glycogen-sparing fuel (i.e. ketone bodies). This study aimed to assess the impact of combined carbohydrate and 1,3-butanediol (CHO-BD) supplementation on endurance performance, blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (ßHB) concentration and glycolytic activity, in comparison to carbohydrate supplementation alone (CHO). DESIGN: Eleven male runners (age 38±12years, mass 67.3±6.5kg, height 174.5±5.0cm, [Formula: see text] 64.2±5.0ml⋅kg-1⋅min-1) performed two experimental trials in a randomised crossover design. METHODS: Each trial consisted of 60min of submaximal running, followed by a 5km running time-trial (TT), and was performed following the ingestion of an energy matched ∼650ml drink (CHO-BD or CHO). RESULTS: There was no difference in TT completion time between the trials (CHO: 1265±93, CHO-BD: 1261±96s; p=0.723). However, blood ßHB concentration in the CHO-BD trial was at least double that of the CHO trial at all time points following supplementation (p<0.05). While blood lactate concentration was lower in the CHO-BD versus CHO trial after 30min submaximal exercise (CHO-BD: 1.46±0.67mmol⋅L-1, CHO: 1.77±0.46mmol⋅L-1, p=0.040), it was similar at other time points. Blood glucose concentrations were higher post-TT in the CHO-BD trial (CHO-BD: 5.83±1.02mmol⋅L-1, CHO: 5.26±0.95mmol⋅L-1, p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: An energy matched CHO-BD supplementation drink raised ßHB concentration and acutely lowered blood lactate concentration, without enhancing 5km TT running performance.