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Amino Acid

Citrulline Malate

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Citrulline Malate. NO precursor stacked with malate — improves pump and reduces post-workout soreness.

How it works. Citrulline → arginine → NO; malate enters TCA cycle.

What the research supports. 2 graded claims. Strongest: Improves reps to failure (moderate).

How much to take. Typical dose: 6–8 g 30–60 min pre-workout.

Side effects and interactions. 1 medication interaction listed. No serious side effects listed at normal doses.

Stacking. Pairs well with Creatine monohydrate, Whey or EAAs.

Common forms. Available as Free-form crystalline powder, Capsules or tablets, Pre-mixed recovery or hydration beverages, Time-release formulations.

Key studies. 9 studies cited. The strongest are listed with links to PubMed.

Community. Experiences from people who have tried Citrulline Malate. Anecdotes are not medical advice.

Citrulline Malate. NO precursor stacked with malate — improves pump and reduces post-workout soreness.

Molecular structureC10H19N3O8 · 309.27 g/mol

What it is

NO precursor stacked with malate — improves pump and reduces post-workout soreness.

Food sources

Dietary protein from animal sources (meat, fish, eggs, dairy) and plant sources (soy, legumes, grains)Free-form amino acid powders and capsulesTargeted pre-workout, recovery, or sleep formulations

Goals

How it works

Citrulline → arginine → NO; malate enters TCA cycle.

Pathways

  • Citrulline → arginine → NO
  • malate enters TCA cycle

Effects

  • +reps to failure supports
  • ↓DOMS decreases

What the research supports

Improves reps to failuremoderate
Reduces DOMSmoderate

Strong: consistent results across large trials or meta-analyses. Moderate: several trials, mostly positive. Limited: small or mixed studies. Preclinical: animal or cell research only.

Typical dose
6–8 g 30–60 min pre-workout
TimingConsistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With foodOptional
Best formMost evidence is based on the free-form crystalline powder form.
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Side effects & interactions

Common side effects

  • GI distress at high dose

Medication interactions

Prescription medications (general)minor

Always disclose Citrulline Malate use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.

Check any supplement–medication combination with your pharmacist before starting.

Combines with

Pairs well

  • Creatine monohydrateFoundational support for strength, power, and lean mass.
  • Whey or EAAsProvides amino acid substrate for muscle protein synthesis.

Common forms

  • Free-form crystalline powder
  • Capsules or tablets
  • Pre-mixed recovery or hydration beverages
  • Time-release formulations

Key studies

9 studies cited in total.

PubMed: Citrulline Malate — Improves reps to failure ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citrulline Malate and "Improves reps to failure". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Citrulline Malate — Reduces DOMS ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citrulline Malate and "Reduces DOMS". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Citrulline Malate — randomized controlled trial ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citrulline Malate and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Discussion

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