(23) ACUTE CITRULLINE SUPPLEMENTATION FAILS TO ENHANCE RESISTANCE PERFORMANCE IN DIVISION I FEMALE ATHLETES

Purpose: Nitric-oxide stimulators (NOS) are increasingly promoted for their purported ability to enhance exercise performance, particularly in resistance training; however, there is a significant dearth of empirical evidence evaluating the veracity of these claims within female athletic populations. Consequently, the present investigation aimed to assess the efficacy of supplemental citrulline supplementation on muscular strength parameters in Division I female athletes within the Southeastern Conference. This study seeks to elucidate the potential ergogenic effects of citrulline in modulating nitric oxide synthesis and subsequent adaptations in skeletal muscle function. Methods: Ten athletic females (age = 21.68 ± 0.97 yr; mass = 78.3 ± 3.2 kg, bodyfat % = 20.06 ± 1.59; height = 169.8 ± 1.21 cm) ingested citrulline (6 g) or a placebo (PL) 45 minutes before exercise in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. Subjects were free of any medical condition and refrained from any demanding upper-body and lower-body activity 72 hours before the testing sessions, respectively. Upon reporting to the lab, participants sat quietly for five minutes. Next, subjects ingested citrulline (6 g) or a placebo (PL) and rested for 45 minutes. Next, resting blood pressure and heart rate were obtained. After a warm-up, participants performed one-repetition maximum (1-RM) testing on the bench press, followed by a 10-minute recovery period. Next, participants rode a stationary cycle for 5-minutes, followed by a 3-minute warm-up bout on the leg press, and then performed 1-RM testing for the lower body. Results: Analysis revealed no significant differences between the treatments for measures of 1-RM strength on either the bench press (p > 0.05) or leg press (p > 0.05). Additionally, blood pressure and heart rate were similar at rest and immediately following 1-RM in both the citrulline and PL groups. Conclusions: Citrulline may not confer ergogenic benefits in female athletes regarding muscular upper- or lower-body performance. Practical Applications: Oral ingestion of citrulline does not significantly enhance muscular strength in female athletes and may be constrained by hepatic and intestinal metabolic processes. Studies suggest combining 3 grams of malate with citrulline supplementation may elicit more favorable ergogenic effects. Acknowledgements: None