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The Effect of 4 Weeks of L-Citrulline Supplementation on Macro- and Microvascular Function in Type 2 Diabetes

The Effect of 4 Weeks of L-Citrulline Supplementation on Macro- and Microvascular Function in Type 2 Diabetes

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06016478
Enrollment
36
Registered
2023-08-29
Start date
2023-05-01
Completion date
2024-07-01
Last updated
2025-05-15

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

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes

Keywords

Endothelial function, Arterial stiffness, Hyperglycemia, Oral glucose tolerance test, Aortic blood pressure, Blood glucose, Lean mass

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of 4 weeks of Citrulline supplementation on macro- and microvascular function during acute hyperglycemia in middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Detailed description

Using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and cross-over design, middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes will be randomized to receive either CIT supplementation (6g/day) or placebo (Microcrystalline Cellulose, 6g/day) for 4 weeks. There will be a total of 5 laboratory visits. Visit 1 (screening visit) will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, visit 2 will take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, and visits 3-5 will be approximately 3 hours each. Visit 1 will measure blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid levels, anthropometry, body composition, and muscle strengths. Visits 2-5 will assess vascular function and glucose control during fasted and acute hyperglycemia conditions induced by 75g of glucose ingestion.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTL-citrulline

4 weeks of L-citrulline (6 g/day) in 8 capsules. Supplementation will be ingested daily, half of the doses in the morning and half at night.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo

4 weeks of microcrystalline cellulose in 8 capsules. Supplementation will be ingested daily, half of the doses in the morning and half at night.

Sponsors

Texas Tech University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Masking description

Double-blind (subject, investigator), randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled

Intervention model description

Double-blind (subject, investigator), randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Middle-aged and older women and men between 40-75 years old * A physician diagnosed type 2 diabetes at least 3 months ago * Treated with an oral hypoglycemic medication * Body mass index \< 40 kg/m2 * Systolic blood pressure \< 160 mmHg * Sedentary (defined as \< 120 min/week of exercise) * Not currently participating in exercise or dietary interventions for at least 2 months prior the present study and willing to abstain from participating in those strategies during the duration of this study.

Exclusion criteria

* \< 40 years of age and \> 65 years of age * Use of medications and/or any supplements that may affect outcome variables (such as arginine- or citrulline-containing supplements, nitrates, and nitroglycerin) * Body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2 * Systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg * Recent changes in medications within 3 months * Current smoking any tobacco use * Type 1 diabetes, severe cardiovascular/renal/pulmonary diseases * More than 7 alcoholic drinks/week of consumption * Premenopausal women with an irregular menstrual cycle (oligomenorrhea) or pregnancy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in total peripheral resistance during acute hyperglycemia4 weeksTotal peripheral resistance will be measured using impedance cardiography (PhysioFlow) at 60 minutes after oral glucose ingestion at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in central and peripheral arterial stiffness during acute hyperglycemia4 weeksArterial stiffness will be assessed using the central (carotid-femoral) and peripheral (femoral-ankle) pulse wave velocity at 60 minutes after oral glucose ingestion at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in blood pressure in the fasted condition4 weeksBrachial and aortic blood pressure will be measured using an automated sphygmomanometry arm cuff (SphygmoCor XCEL). Beat-to-beat blood pressure will be measured using an automated photoplethysmography finger cuff (Finometer). Blood pressure will be measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in blood pressure during acute hyperglycemia4 weeksBrachial and aortic blood pressure will be measured using an automated sphygmomanometry arm cuff (SphygmoCor XCEL). Beat-to-beat blood pressure will be measured using an automated photoplethysmography finger cuff (Finometer). Blood pressure will be measured at 60 minutes after oral glucose ingestion at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in stroke volume in the fasted condition4 weeksStroke volume will be measured using impedance cardiography (PhysioFlow) at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in stroke volume during acute hyperglycemia4 weeksStroke volume will be measured using impedance cardiography (PhysioFlow) at 60 minutes after oral glucose ingestion at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in total peripheral resistance in the fasted condition4 weeksTotal peripheral resistance will be measured using impedance cardiography (PhysioFlow) at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in macrovascular endothelial function in the fasted condition4 weeksMacrovascular endothelial function will be measured using brachial artery flow mediated dilation (ultrasonography) during reactive hyperemia at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in macrovascular endothelial function during acute hyperglycemia4 weeksMacrovascular endothelial function will be measured using brachial artery flow mediated dilation (ultrasonography) during reactive hyperemia at 60 minutes after oral glucose ingestion at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in microvascular endothelial function in the fasted condition4 weeksMicrovascular endothelial function will be assessed using peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPAT device) during reactive hyperemia at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in microvascular endothelial function during acute hyperglycemia4 weeksMicrovascular endothelial function will be assessed using forearm muscle oxygenation (near-infrared spectroscopy) during reactive hyperemia at 60 minutes after oral glucose ingestion at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in blood glucose levels in the fasted condition4 weeksBlood glucose levels will be measured by finger prick at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in blood glucose levels during acute hyperglycemia4 weeksBlood glucose levels will be measured by finger prick at 60 minutes after oral glucose ingestion at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in central and peripheral arterial stiffness in the fasted condition4 weeksArterial stiffness will be assessed using the central (carotid-femoral) and peripheral (femoral-ankle) pulse wave velocity at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in muscle strength4 weeksMaximal handgrip strength will be measured using handgrip dynamometer. Leg extension and plantar flexion strength will be measured using the 10RM test at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in insulin levels4 weeksSerum insulin levels will be tested at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in serum arginine levels4 weeksSerum arginine levels will tested at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in serum arginase activity levels4 weeksSerum arginase activity levels will tested at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring4 weeksAmbulatory blood pressure will be obtained using a monitor during daytime and nighttime on two separate days at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.
Change in body composition4 weeksBody composition (fat and lean mass) will be measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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