L-Citrulline Supplementation Improves Arterial Blood Flow and Muscle Oxygenation during Handgrip Exercise in Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women

Authors

• Yejin Kang
• Katherine N Dillon
• Mauricio A Martinez
• Arun Maharaj
• Stephen M Fischer
• Arturo Figueroa

Language

English

Publication Date

6-19-2024

Journal

Nutrients

DOI

10.3390/nu16121935

PMID

38931289

PMCID

PMC11206967

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

6-19-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction decreases exercise limb blood flow (BF) and muscle oxygenation. Acute L-Citrulline supplementation (CIT) improves muscle tissue oxygen saturation index (TSI) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) during exercise. Although CIT improves endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) in hypertensive women, the impact of CIT on exercise BF and muscle oxygenation (TSI) and extraction (HHb) are unknown. We examined the effects of CIT (10 g/day) and a placebo for 4 weeks on blood pressure (BP), arterial vasodilation (FMD, BF, and vascular conductance [VC]), and forearm muscle oxygenation (TSI and HHb) at rest and during exercise in 22 hypertensive postmenopausal women. Compared to the placebo, CIT significantly (p < 0.05) increased FMD (Δ−0.7 ± 0.6% vs. Δ1.6 ± 0.7%) and reduced aortic systolic BP (Δ3 ± 5 vs. Δ−4 ± 6 mmHg) at rest and improved exercise BF (Δ17 ± 12 vs. Δ48 ± 16 mL/min), VC (Δ−21 ± 9 vs. Δ41 ± 14 mL/mmHg/min), TSI (Δ−0.84 ± 0.58% vs. Δ1.61 ± 0.46%), and HHb (Δ1.03 ± 0.69 vs. Δ−2.76 ± 0.77 μM). Exercise BF and VC were positively correlated with improved FMD and TSI during exercise (all p < 0.05). CIT improved exercise artery vasodilation and muscle oxygenation via increased endothelial function in hypertensive postmenopausal women.

Keywords

Humans, Female, Postmenopause, Citrulline, Middle Aged, Hypertension, Muscle, Skeletal, Hand Strength, Dietary Supplements, Vasodilation, Regional Blood Flow, Aged, Exercise, Blood Pressure, Oxygen, Oxygen Consumption, Double-Blind Method, Endothelium, Vascular, L-citrulline, endothelial function, muscle oxygenation, blood flow, vascular conductance, handgrip exercise, postmenopausal women

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Kang, Yejin; Dillon, Katherine N; Martinez, Mauricio A; et al., "L-Citrulline Supplementation Improves Arterial Blood Flow and Muscle Oxygenation during Handgrip Exercise in Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women" (2024). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 3473.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthmed_docs/3473