l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic Health
Diminished bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), the gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of numerous vital biological functions, contributes to the development and progression of multiple age- and lifestyle-related diseases. While l-arginine is the precursor for the synthesis of NO...
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doaj-a0f3881e266d4b52a46d98c9d6cb48ea2020-11-24T22:23:21ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432018-07-0110792110.3390/nu10070921nu10070921l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic HealthTimothy D. Allerton0David N. Proctor1Jacqueline M. Stephens2Tammy R. Dugas3Guillaume Spielmann4Brian A. Irving5Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USADepartment of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USAPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USADepartment of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USAPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USAPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USADiminished bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), the gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of numerous vital biological functions, contributes to the development and progression of multiple age- and lifestyle-related diseases. While l-arginine is the precursor for the synthesis of NO by endothelial-nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), oral l-arginine supplementation is largely ineffective at increasing NO synthesis and/or bioavailability for a variety of reasons. l-citrulline, found in high concentrations in watermelon, is a neutral alpha-amino acid formed by enzymes in the mitochondria that also serves as a substrate for recycling l-arginine. Unlike l-arginine, l-citrulline is not quantitatively extracted from the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., enterocytes) or liver and its supplementation is therefore more effective at increasing l-arginine levels and NO synthesis. Supplementation with l-citrulline has shown promise as a blood pressure lowering intervention (both resting and stress-induced) in adults with pre-/hypertension, with pre-clinical (animal) evidence for atherogenic-endothelial protection. Preliminary evidence is also available for l-citrulline-induced benefits to muscle and metabolic health (via vascular and non-vascular pathways) in susceptible/older populations. In this review, we examine the impact of supplementing this important urea cycle intermediate on cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes and identify future directions for investigating its therapeutic impact on cardiometabolic health.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/7/921supplementstherapeuticsinterventionswatermelonnitric oxidearginineendothelial functionflow mediated dilationmitochondriaenterocytesliveradipocytesmuscleimmune cellsobesityaginghypertensioninflammationinsulin resistancediabetescardiovascular disease |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Timothy D. Allerton David N. Proctor Jacqueline M. Stephens Tammy R. Dugas Guillaume Spielmann Brian A. Irving |
spellingShingle |
Timothy D. Allerton David N. Proctor Jacqueline M. Stephens Tammy R. Dugas Guillaume Spielmann Brian A. Irving l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic Health Nutrients supplements therapeutics interventions watermelon nitric oxide arginine endothelial function flow mediated dilation mitochondria enterocytes liver adipocytes muscle immune cells obesity aging hypertension inflammation insulin resistance diabetes cardiovascular disease |
author_facet |
Timothy D. Allerton David N. Proctor Jacqueline M. Stephens Tammy R. Dugas Guillaume Spielmann Brian A. Irving |
author_sort |
Timothy D. Allerton |
title |
l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic Health |
title_short |
l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic Health |
title_full |
l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic Health |
title_fullStr |
l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic Health |
title_full_unstemmed |
l-Citrulline Supplementation: Impact on Cardiometabolic Health |
title_sort |
l-citrulline supplementation: impact on cardiometabolic health |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Nutrients |
issn |
2072-6643 |
publishDate |
2018-07-01 |
description |
Diminished bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), the gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of numerous vital biological functions, contributes to the development and progression of multiple age- and lifestyle-related diseases. While l-arginine is the precursor for the synthesis of NO by endothelial-nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), oral l-arginine supplementation is largely ineffective at increasing NO synthesis and/or bioavailability for a variety of reasons. l-citrulline, found in high concentrations in watermelon, is a neutral alpha-amino acid formed by enzymes in the mitochondria that also serves as a substrate for recycling l-arginine. Unlike l-arginine, l-citrulline is not quantitatively extracted from the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., enterocytes) or liver and its supplementation is therefore more effective at increasing l-arginine levels and NO synthesis. Supplementation with l-citrulline has shown promise as a blood pressure lowering intervention (both resting and stress-induced) in adults with pre-/hypertension, with pre-clinical (animal) evidence for atherogenic-endothelial protection. Preliminary evidence is also available for l-citrulline-induced benefits to muscle and metabolic health (via vascular and non-vascular pathways) in susceptible/older populations. In this review, we examine the impact of supplementing this important urea cycle intermediate on cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes and identify future directions for investigating its therapeutic impact on cardiometabolic health. |
topic |
supplements therapeutics interventions watermelon nitric oxide arginine endothelial function flow mediated dilation mitochondria enterocytes liver adipocytes muscle immune cells obesity aging hypertension inflammation insulin resistance diabetes cardiovascular disease |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/7/921 |
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