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Citrulline Supplementation Combined With Exercise: Effect on Muscle Function in Elderly People (CITEX Study)

Effects of Citrulline Supplementation Combined With Exercise on Muscle Function and Functional Capacity in Older Obese Men and Women

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02417428
Acronym
CITEX
Enrollment
104
Registered
2015-04-15
Start date
2015-06-30
Completion date
2018-12-31
Last updated
2021-08-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia, Obesity

Keywords

Muscle function, Functional capacity

Brief summary

The main objective of this study is to determine if oral supplementation of Citrulline, when combined with HIIT, can produce significant changes in body composition, muscle quality, muscle metabolism and functional capacity in older obese men and women . The investigators hypothesize that Citrulline combined with HIIT will be more beneficial than HIIT alone which will be more beneficial than citrulline alone which will be more beneficial than placebo alone in obese elderly men and women .

Detailed description

Citrulline is a non-protein amino acid, isolated from watermelon, involved in the urea cycle and an arginine precursor. Participants will take 10g/d of citrulline or placebo (isocaloric). High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a high intensity aerobic training (30 sec at 85% and up of HRmax + 1min30 at 65-70% of HRmax). they HIIT duration is 30 min/session. HIIT is recognized as beneficial to improve health in human such as Vo2max, body fat or . Then intervention will be follow during 12 consecutive weeks.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTCitrulline

Twelve weeks of citrulline oral supplementation will be taken by half of the participants (other are taken a placebo). Citrulline supplementation will be taken orally. Ten grams of citrulline (white powder) will be mixed with a liquid daily. Supplementation will be consumed once at lunch time.

OTHERPlacebo

Twelve weeks of oral placebo will be taken by half of the participants. Ten grams of placebo (maltodextrin white powder) will be mixed with a liquid and will be consumed once daily at lunch time.

BEHAVIORALExercise

Participants will also take part in twelve weeks of HIIT (30s at 85% and up of maximal heart rate + 1m30sec at 60-75% of maximal heart rate (HR max). 3 times/ week during 30 continuous minutes. Each period are supervised and monitored using borg scale and polar system.

No exercise program will be assigned to participants.

Sponsors

McGill University
CollaboratorOTHER
Université de Montréal
CollaboratorOTHER
Université du Québec a Montréal
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. autonomous (being able to follow the exercise program) and without cognitive impairment (MOCA test ≥21) ; 2. obese status (BMI between 30 and 40 kg / m2 or a waist circumference greater than 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women or fat mass (%; total or androïd or gynoïd) equal or superior to 27% in men and 40% in women; 3. stable weight (± 5 kg) for 6 months; 4. non-smoking and moderate drinkers (max: 15 g/day of alcohol) ; 5. without stroke or history of stroke ; 6. sedentary (less than 2 hours of structured physical activity per week); 7. not being involved in a vigorous exercise program for at least 12 months; 8. can understand French 9. postmenopausal women (without menses since 60 consecutively months).

Exclusion criteria

1. to have a metal implant (pacemaker); 2. asthma requiring oral steroid treatment; 3. taking other medication that could affect metabolism or cardiovascular function; 4. taking anticoagulant medication. 5. taking hormonal-replacement therapy (only for women)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Improvement in body composition and muscle quality12 weeksWe will determine whether Group A improves more body composition (decreases fat mass (%), increases Leg lean mass index (kg), increases Leg muscle strength (kg)) than group C, B or D.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Exploratory aims: improvements in citrate synthase12 weeksWe will determine whether Group A improves citrate synthase (CS),compared to Group C or B or D.
Exploratory aims:improvements in palmitate oxidation.12 weeksWe will determine whether Group A palmitate oxidation, compared to Group C or B or D.

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026