L-citrulline is an amino acid that is found in a number of foods and available in supplement powder form.
Recently, two major scientific studies have produced promising results that suggest that increasing levels of l-citrulline in your diet could help you achieve your goal of losing weight and gaining lean muscle.
L-Citrulline and Fat Burning
A recent study at the Universite Paris Descartes involving lab rats revealed that l-citrulline could help the body more efficiently burn fat stored in the belly area.The researchers compared belly fat levels in a diet that included l-citrulline versus a diet that did not include the amino acid. The study found that the diet including l-citrulline showed less body fat in the stomach area.
In humans, excess belly fat is often hard to burn with the abdominal region one of the last places where people tend to lose weight. Carrying excess fat along the tummy has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, making the accumulation of belly fat a concern.
The Universite Paris Descartes study suggests that l-citrulline could be a solution to the problem of how to help the body burn belly fat in response to dietary changes and exercise.
L-Citrulline and Muscle Development
The Mayo Clinic recently did a study to investigate how l-citrulline could benefit individuals on low-calorie weight loss diets who were hoping to increase muscle mass.
For the study, eight people were fed a low protein, low-calorie diet for three days and the same diet along with a certain dose of l-citrulline on the fourth day. Each day, the researchers conducted tests to determine how much protein the study participants' bodies were producing.
The scientists found that l-citrulline increased the body's ability to produce proteins and that higher doses of the amino acid produced greater effects than lower doses.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that l-citrulline increased the body's ability to build proteins that are needed to develop muscle fibers and concluded that l-citrulline supplementation could potentially lead to a faster increase in muscle mass.
The Takeaway from the Studies
While more research is needed to confirm the results of these studies and determine precisely how l-citrulline is able to provide fat burning and muscle building benefits, the evidence from the studies suggests that the amino acid could be an ideal addition to a healthy diet for individuals who want to replace body fat with lean muscle mass.For help selecting an l-citrulline supplement, contact our customer service team.
