Increase your performance during intense exercise
hyve L-Citrulline is a dietary supplement for both endurance and strength athletes. It increases the availability of arginine for nitric oxide production and helps delay muscle fatigue during intense exercise
Better blood flow to muscles
Higher tolerance for intensive performance
Support for energy production during exertion
Combination of L-citrulline with nitrates
The combination of L-citrulline and nitrates represents an effective strategy for supporting athletic performance, as both substances increase the availability of nitric oxide (NO) in the body, but each through a different metabolic pathway. L-citrulline increases blood arginine levels, which is a direct precursor to NO, while beetroot nitrate is gradually converted in the body into nitrite and then into NO. Thanks to this, their combination promotes even better blood flow to muscles, more efficient transport of oxygen and nutrients, and higher energy production during performance compared to nitrates or L-citrulline alone.
Longer without fatigue
During intense training, ammonia is produced in the muscles, which is associated with feelings of fatigue and a decrease in performance. L-citrulline is part of the urea cycle and helps the body remove this ammonia more efficiently. This can contribute to better tolerance of high intensity and maintaining performance during strenuous training.
100% L-Citrulline Malate 2:1
L-citrulline is a precursor to arginine, which serves as a key substrate for nitric oxide (NO) production in the body. Its supplementation increases plasma arginine levels more effectively than arginine itself, thereby promoting vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) and improving the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to working muscles. At the same time, it helps eliminate ammonia and delays muscle fatigue during intense endurance exercise, leading to an increase in generated power and a reduction in perceived exertion.
Further information
hyve L-citrulline is not just another amino acid in sports nutrition. It is a scientifically backed tool for athletes who want to support blood flow, delay fatigue, and improve the efficiency of muscle work during intense exercise.
Supporting nitric oxide production for better blood flow
L-citrulline is a non-essential, non-proteinogenic amino acid that is used in the body for arginine synthesis. It is from arginine that nitric oxide (NO) is subsequently formed by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase.
Nitric oxide acts as a powerful vasodilator – it widens blood vessels and improves blood flow. This allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach the working muscles, which can support performance and regeneration during strenuous physical activity.
A more effective route to NO than arginine alone
L-citrulline is considered a more effective way to increase blood arginine levels than L-arginine supplementation alone.
A large part of orally administered arginine is broken down in the digestive tract and liver by the enzyme arginase. Citrulline bypasses this metabolism and is then converted to arginine in the body, leading to a more significant increase in its plasma concentration. Furthermore, studies show that L-citrulline supplementation can increase nitric oxide production without gastrointestinal issues, even at doses around 6 g per day.
Delaying fatigue by removing ammonia
During intense exercise, ammonia is produced in the body – a metabolite that is associated with the onset of muscle fatigue.
Citrulline supplementation can support its more efficient removal through the urea cycle. Studies show that citrulline increases plasma urea concentration while simultaneously suppressing exercise-induced hyperammonemia. This can help delay fatigue and maintain performance during prolonged exertion.
Supporting endurance and high-intensity performance
Research suggests that regular citrulline supplementation can lead to measurable improvements in athletic performance.
For example, seven-day supplementation with a dose of 6 g per day led to improved time trial performance and reduced perceived exertion in trained cyclists. Other studies report improved performance in high-intensity exercise when citrulline was taken for approximately one week with the last dose 1–2 hours before performance.
Efficacy depends on regular use
Similar to many other ergogenic substances, proper dosage and timing are key.
Most studies that have shown a positive effect on performance used chronic supplementation in the range of approximately 3.4–6 g of citrulline daily for at least 6 days. Conversely, a single dose administered shortly before exercise usually did not lead to an immediate improvement in aerobic performance.
Based on available data, the optimal strategy appears to be daily supplementation of 6 g of citrulline for at least one week, with the last dose taken approximately 1–2 hours before training or competition.
Frequently asked questions
Get the most out of the productL-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that is converted in the body into arginine – a substance used to produce nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide causes blood vessel dilation (vasodilation), which can improve blood flow, oxygen and nutrient delivery to working muscles, and reduce the energetic cost of muscle contraction. This can contribute to better endurance performance and faster recovery after exercise.
L-citrulline can slightly improve performance during high-intensity exercise by increasing nitric oxide (NO) production, which improves muscle blood flow and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients during exertion. It may be suitable for strength training with a higher number of repetitions, interval training, or sports disciplines combining strength and endurance.
L-citrulline is usually dosed at 3–6g daily, often for several days before performance. In many studies, athletes took 6g daily for 7 days, with the last dose being taken 1–2 hours before training or competition.
Short-term (acute) use only before performance has, according to some analyses, little or no effect, while several days of supplementation can improve performance more.
Practically:
- common dose: 3–6g daily
- duration of supplementation: at least 6–16 days
- timing: last dose 1–2 hours before training
The effects of L-citrulline usually do not appear immediately. Research shows that the best results were observed after several days of regular supplementation, typically around 1 week of use (e.g., 6 g of pure L-citrulline per day or 9 g of L-citrulline Malate in a 2:1 ratio).
An acute dose 1–2 hours before training can increase blood levels of citrulline and arginine, but a single dose alone often does not lead to a significant improvement in performance. A better effect was observed with supplementation lasting 6–16 days.
Yes, L-citrulline is generally considered a safe supplement when taken in the typical doses used in studies.
L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that the body can produce itself and also occurs naturally in foods (e.g., watermelon). After ingestion, it is largely converted into arginine, increasing its concentration in the blood. Unlike direct arginine supplementation, citrulline is less broken down in the digestive tract and liver and does not cause the same gastrointestinal problems at similar doses.
Studies commonly use doses of approximately 3–6 g per day for several days to a week with no significant adverse effects reported.
Yes, L-citrulline can be combined with nitrates. This combination has synergistic effects because both substances affect the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the body.
L-citrulline increases the level of arginine, which is a substrate for the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and is used to produce NO. Nitrates, on the other hand, increase NO availability through a different pathway – the reduction of nitrate → nitrite → nitric oxide. Both mechanisms therefore lead to higher NO availability, which causes vasodilation, better blood flow, and improved oxygen delivery to muscles during exercise.
This combination of citrulline and nitrates enhances NO signaling more than each substance individually.
Yes! L-citrulline is also suitable for women. It works the same way in men and women, as it is converted into arginine in the body and increases the production of nitric oxide (NO), which improves blood flow to muscles and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients during exercise. This can support performance during intense training and regeneration.
Therefore, it can be suitable for, for example, strength training, interval training, or sports combining strength and endurance.
Yes! L-citrulline can also be safely used by vegetarians and vegans. It is a non-essential amino acid that the human body can synthesize on its own and that also occurs naturally in some plant foods, such as watermelon.
Because citrulline is commonly produced through fermentation processes, the L-citrulline used in supplements does not come from animal sources.
L-Citrulline, Nitric Oxide, and Athletic Performance
- Bescós, R., A. Sureda, J.A. Tur, and A. Pons. 2012. The effect of nitric-oxide-related supplements on human performance. Sports Med 42: 99-117.
- Schwedhelm, E., R. Maas, R. Freese, D. Jung, Z. Lukacs, A. Jambrecina, W. Spickler, F. Schulze, and R.H. Böger. 2008. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: Impact on nitric oxide metabolism. Br J Clin Pharmacol 65: 51-59.
- Aguayo, E. A. Martínez-Sánchez, B. Fernández- Lobato, and F. Alacid. 2021. L-citrulline: A non-essential amino acid with important roles in human health. Appl Sci 11:3293.
- Stanelle, S.T., K.L. McLaughlin, and S.F. Crouse. 2020. One week of L-citrulline supplementation improves performance in trained cyclists. J Strength Cond Res 34(3):647-652.
- Bailey, S.J., J.R. Blackwell, T. Lord, A. Vanhatalo, P.G. Winyard, and A.M. Jones. 2015. L-citrulline supplementation improves O2 uptake kinetics and high-intensity exercise performance in humans. J Appl Physiol 119(4):385-395.
- Viribay, A., J. Fernández-Landa, A. Castañeda-Babarro, P.S. Collado, D. Fernández-Lázaro, and J. Mielgo-Ayuso. 2022. Effects of citrulline supplementation on different aerobic exercise performance outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients 14(17):3479.
- Burgos J, Viribay A, Fernández-Lázaro D, Calleja-González J, González-Santos J, Mielgo-Ayuso J. Combined Effects of Citrulline Plus Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Extract Co-Supplementation on Maximal and Endurance-Strength and Aerobic Power in Trained Male Triathletes: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.Nutrients. 2022;14(1):40.
