THE EFFECTS OF CITRULLINE MALATE

Project Abstract

THE EFFECTS OF CITRULLINE MALATE ON MULTIPLE BOUT, HIGH-INTENSITY AEROBIC EXERCISE: A PILOT STUDY

Citrulline malate (CM) is suggested to improve performance and post-exercise recovery. There is limited research on the effect of CM on short-duration, high-intensity aerobic exercise with ambiguous results. The effects of acute CM supplementation on combined aerobic/anaerobic performance in novice CrossFit® participants are unknown. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of acute CM vs. placebo (PL) supplementation on multiple-bout, high-intensity aerobic performance in novice Nancy CrossFit® participants. METHODS: Eight recreationally trained males (X±SD; age = 20.8 ± 2.3 yrs, height = 180.0 ± 6.0 cm, body fat 9.5 ± 5.1%, VO2max = 49.3 ± 6.4 ml/kg/min, 1RM = 59.5 ± 19.7 kg, MET.min = 701.2 ± 230.5) were randomized in a double-blind, crossover design. Participants completed two Nancy workouts separated by a 7-day washout period. In each session, participants consumed 4 oz of orange juice with either 8g of CM or PL. After 60 min, participants completed the Nancy (5 bouts of a 400-meter run on a treadmill followed by 15 overhead squats with a 20 kg barbell), and a 20-min recovery. Speed, heart rate reserve (HRR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), blood pressure (BP), and lactate (LA) were measured. Separate 2x5 repeated measures ANOVAs assessed differences in speed, HRR, and RPE between conditions and bouts. A 2x6 repeated measures ANOVA assessed differences in LA between conditions at the following time points: pre-exercise and 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min post-exercise. A 2x3 repeated measures ANOVAs assessed the influence of CM on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure before, immediately after, and 20 min after exercise. To assess if a learning effect was present, speed between trials 1 and 2 were compared. RESULTS: For LA, a 2-way interaction was noted (p = .03, = .29), indicating at 10 min (9.98 ± 2.14 vs 11.10 ± 1.97 mmol/L, p = .04, g = .84) and 20 min (6.04 ± 1.92 vs 7.30 ± 2.25 mmol/L, p = .01, g = 1.14) LA was lower for PL as compared to CM. All other time points were not different between conditions (p = .11 - 0.81, g = .08 - .62). RPE, HRR, speed, DBP and SBP were not different between conditions (p > .05, < .001 - .19). In addition, a learning effect was not found between trials 1 and 2 (p = .76, = .01). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that acute CM supplementation before the Nancy did not improve aerobic performance.

THE EFFECT OF CITRULLINE MALATE SUPPLEMENTATION ON OVERHEAD SQUAT PERFORMANCE IN RECREATIONALLY TRAINED MALES

Citrulline malate (CM) is a recognized supplement to improve performance due to its potential to enhance blood flow and nutrient delivery. Various studies have focused on the effect of CM on anaerobic performance in trained athletes with differing results in power output due to variations in methodology. The benefits of acute CM supplementation on high intensity aerobic/anaerobic performance in novice CrossFit® participants is unknown. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of acute CM vs. placebo (PL) supplementation on repeated-bout overhead squat (OH) performance in novice Nancy CrossFit® participants. METHODS: Eight recreationally trained males (X ± SD; age = 20.8 ± 2.3 yrs, height = 180.0 ± 6.0 cm, body fat 9.5 ± 5.1%, VO2max = 49.3 ± 6.4 ml/kg/min, 1RM = 59.5 ± 19.7 kg, MET.min = 701.2 ± 230.5) were randomized in a double-blind, crossover design. Participants completed two sessions of the Nancy separated by a 7-day washout period. In each session, participants consumed 4 oz of orange juice with either 8 g of CM or PL. After 60 min, participants completed the Nancy (5 bouts of a 400-meter run on a treadmill followed by 15 OH using a 20 kg barbell) as quickly as possible. Mean concentric power (MP) and mean concentric velocity (MV) in OH performance was measured with a linear position transducer. A 2x2 (condition x set) repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustments was used to assess changes in MP and MV between the first and last set between conditions. An additional 2x2 repeated measures ANOVA (trial x set) was used to compare Nancy performance between the first and second sessions to test for a potential practice effect independent of supplementation. RESULTS: Two-way interactions between supplementation condition and set were not significant for MV (p = .63, = .04) or MP (p = .65, = .03). Main effects for condition and set were not different for MV (p = .28 - .54, = .06 - .16) or MP (p = .29 - .53, = .06 - .16). When collapsing across sets, MV (1.05 ± 18 vs. 101.1 ± 16 m/s) and MP (205.0 ± 35.8 vs. 198.5 ± 31.6 W) for CM and PL, respectively, were not different (p = .28 -.29, = .16). In addition, no practice effect was found between the first and second session for MV (p = .17 - .80, = .01 - .25) or MP (p = .16 - .83, = .07 - .26). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that acute CM supplementation before the Nancy did not improve OH performance.

Conference

Conference Name: American College of Sports Medicine Central States 2024 Annual Meeting

Dates: March 7th-8th

Sponsoring Body: American College of Sports Medicine

Conference Website: https://www.acsm.org/membership/regional-chapters/acsm-chapters/central-states/annual-meeting

Funding Type

Travel Grant

Academic College

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Area/Major/Minor

Exercise Science

Degree

Bachelors

Classification

Senior

Name

Brenda Reeves, PhD and Matthew Hermes, PhD

Academic College

School of Nursing and Health Professions

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