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Effects of L-arginine and L-citrulline Supplementation on Muscle Respiration

The Effect of L-arginine and L-citrulline Supplementation on Endurance Performance and Mitochondrial Respiration

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03998800
Enrollment
18
Registered
2019-06-26
Start date
2019-05-01
Completion date
2022-01-01
Last updated
2022-05-02

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

Conditions

Dietary Exposure

Keywords

Endurance performance, Mitochondrial function, L-arginine, L-citrulline, Healthy males

Brief summary

The objective of this trial is to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with the amino acids, L-arginine and L-citrulline, on endurance performance and mitochondrial respiration in healthy men compared to supplementation with L-arginine alone and a placebo supplement.

Detailed description

This study is a randomized, double-blind, cross over trial of L-arginine and L-citrulline supplementation, L-arginine supplementation alone and placebo supplementation in healthy men. The intervention period will be 8-11 weeks for each participant and a minimum of 15 individuals will be recruited and enrolled to complete the trial. Subjects will complete the experimental protocol described below over 3 individual 10 day supplementation periods, separated by washout periods of approximately 2 weeks. Subjects will ingest corn-starch as a placebo, L-arginine (3g/day) or L-arginine (1.5 g/day) + L-citrulline (1.5g/day). On day 7 of the supplementation period, a skeletal muscle biopsy and blood sample will be obtained from the subjects to investigate mitochondrial function and blood amino acid and nitric oxide levels. On day 10 of the supplementation period, subjects will complete a performance test on a cycle ergometer to investigate their endurance performance. These assessments will be performed to determine the effects of co-ingesting L-arginine and L-citrulline compared to L-arginine alone and placebo administration.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTDietary Supplement

Dietary Supplement: L-arginine and L-citrulline supplement, L-arginine supplement, or placebo supplement (corn-starch) Subjects will complete 3 individual 10 day supplementation periods, separated by washout periods of approximately 2 weeks.

BEHAVIORALEndurance exercise on a cycle ergometer

On day 10 of each supplementation period, subjects will complete a performance test on a cycle ergometer to investigate their endurance performance.

Sponsors

Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Loughborough University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* healthy male, 18-40 years of age * recreationally-active * healthy BMI (≥18.5 and ≤24.9 kg/m2)

Exclusion criteria

* participating in other studies currently or in the past two months or has an intention to participate in other studies over the period of this study * history of gastric, digestive, cardiovascular, renal disease or any other orthopaedic diseases related to motor organs * lidocaine allergy * use of medication that may affect study measures * contraindication to the biopsy procedures * on medications that affect the immune system * on Aspirin or other drugs known to prolong bleeding * smoker * user of dietary supplements currently or in the past one month * a heavy drinker

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Endurance performance on a cycle ergometer between L-arginine + L-citrulline supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 10 of the supplementation periods, subjects will complete a performance test on a cycle ergometer to investigate their endurance performance
Change in Endurance performance on a cycle ergometer between L-arginine supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 10 of the supplementation periods, subjects will complete a performance test on a cycle ergometer to investigate their endurance performance
Changes of mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle between L-arginine supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 7 of the supplementation periods, a skeletal muscle biopsy sample will be obtained from subjects to investigate mitochondrial function.
Changes of mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle between L-arginine + L-citrulline supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 7 of the supplementation periods, a skeletal muscle biopsy sample will be obtained from subjects to investigate mitochondrial function.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in subjective feeling during and after exercise between L-arginine supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 10 of the supplementation period, subjective feeling during (using the 6-20 ratings of perceived exertion scale) and after (using a 100 mm visual analogue scale where 0 mm = no pain and 100 m = maximal pain) exercise will be assessed. Subjective feeling will also be assessed on the morning of day 11 of each supplementation period.
Changes of amino acid and nitric oxide biomarkers levels in plasma between L-arginine supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn days 7 and 10 of the supplementation periods, a venous blood sample will be obtained from subjects to investigate amino acid and nitric oxide biomarkers levels in plasma.
Changes in subjective feeling during and after exercise between L-arginine + L-citrulline supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 10 of the supplementation period, subjective feeling during (using the 6-20 ratings of perceived exertion scale) and after (using a 100 mm visual analogue scale where 0 mm = no pain and 100 m = maximal pain) exercise will be assessed. Subjective feeling will also be assessed on the morning of day 11 of each supplementation period.
Changes of amino acid and nitric oxide biomarkers levels in plasma between L-arginine + L-citrulline supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn days 7 and 10 of the supplementation periods, a venous blood sample will be obtained from subjects to investigate amino acid and nitric oxide biomarkers levels in plasma.
Changes in muscle oxygenation between L-arginine supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 10 of the supplementation periods, skeletal muscle oxygenation will be assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy to reveal the tissue saturation index during exercise.
Changes in muscle oxygenation between L-arginine + L-citrulline supplementation and placebo supplementation8-11 weeksOn day 10 of the supplementation periods, skeletal muscle oxygenation will be assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy to reveal the tissue saturation index during exercise.

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

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