AXE & SLEDGE BASICS CITRULLINE

DETAILS:

PURE L-CITRULLINE 

WHAT IS CITRULLINE? 

Citrulline is an amino acid that offers a variety of health and exercise benefits, and while it's produced naturally by the body, supplementation can provide additional positive effects. Here’s a deeper dive into how citrulline works and how it supports performance and overall health:

Key Functions of Citrulline:

1. Vasodilation & Blood Flow:

   • Citrulline promotes vasodilation, which is the widening of blood vessels, improving blood flow. This process is beneficial for lowering blood pressure and enhancing circulation. More blood flow to muscles means increased delivery of oxygen and nutrients during exercise, leading to improved performance and faster recovery.
   • The mechanism behind vasodilation is that citrulline is converted into L-arginine in the body. L-arginine is then used to produce nitric oxide, which relaxes the muscle cells in the blood vessel walls, allowing them to expand.

2. Improved Exercise Performance:

   • The increased nitric oxide (NO) levels from citrulline can help improve exercise endurance by enhancing oxygen and nutrient delivery to working muscles, which can delay fatigue and improve stamina during intense physical activity.
   • Interestingly, citrulline supplementation may be more effective at raising arginine levels in the body than directly taking arginine itself. This is due to how the body processes and absorbs these amino acids differently.

3. Muscle Building:

   • While citrulline isn’t directly used to build proteins (like leucine or valine), it can stimulate muscle protein synthesis through specific signaling pathways involved in muscle growth. This can aid in muscle repair and recovery after intense workouts.

4. Urea Cycle & Detoxification:

   • Citrulline plays a crucial role in the urea cycle, which is responsible for removing ammonia (a byproduct of protein metabolism) from the body. Ammonia can build up during intense physical activity, leading to fatigue. Citrulline helps convert this ammonia into urea, which is then excreted through urine, supporting detoxification and recovery.

Food Sources & Supplementation:

• Watermelon is the most well-known natural source of citrulline, though it can also be found in other foods like cucumbers and pumpkins. However, to achieve the higher levels needed for optimal performance, supplementation with citrulline (often in the form of L-citrulline or citrulline malate) is commonly used by athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Benefits of Citrulline Supplementation:

• Improved Blood Flow: Enhanced nitric oxide production helps with vasodilation and better circulation during exercise.
• Reduced Muscle Fatigue: By reducing the build-up of ammonia in the blood, citrulline can help delay the onset of fatigue during high-intensity activities.
• Increased Endurance: The improved oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles allow for better performance during long workouts.
• Faster Recovery: Its effects on the urea cycle and muscle protein synthesis make it valuable for muscle repair and reducing soreness.

Summary:

While citrulline is not directly involved in building muscle proteins, its ability to boost blood flow, support muscle recovery, and reduce fatigue makes it a powerful supplement for enhancing exercise performance and overall health. By increasing nitric oxide levels and aiding in the urea cycle, citrulline can help you push harder in the gym, recover faster, and promote better muscle function.