Does Citrulline Malate Muscle Soreness Meta-Analysis work?

Updated October 2026

Quick Answer

Citrulline Malate Muscle Soreness Meta-Analysis has evidence relevant to strength of evidence and what the studies can or cannot prove, but conclusions should stay close to the cited sources. One representative finding is: Since lactate accumulation has been associated with muscle fatigue and soreness, the secondary outcome was to assess the effect of citrulline supplements on blood lactate levels after exercise.

Key Takeaways

  • 01Since lactate accumulation has been associated with muscle fatigue and soreness, the secondary outcome was to assess the effect of citrulline supplements on blood lactate levels after exercise. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020)]
  • 02The quality of each article was assessed based on the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials.Unpublished clinical trials were also searched using the term “citrulline” on ClinicalTrials.gov to identify any unpublished trials. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020)]
  • 03Other studies had a low risk for performance bias in that they masked placebo treatments by appearance and taste; in particular, 4 studies controlled for taste and smell by having participants wear a nose clip when consuming the supplement. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020)]
  • 04First, L-citrulline, one of the amino acids involved in the ureagenesis cycle, may facilitate the clearance of ammonia. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020)]
The current Migaku evidence database contains 2 reusable source documents for Citrulline Malate Muscle Soreness Meta-Analysis. This answer focuses on strength of evidence and what the studies can or cannot prove. - Since lactate accumulation has been associated with muscle fatigue and soreness, the secondary outcome was to assess the effect of citrulline supplements on blood lactate levels after exercise. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020); evidence level 1] - The quality of each article was assessed based on the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials.Unpublished clinical trials were also searched using the term “citrulline” on ClinicalTrials.gov to identify any unpublished trials. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020); evidence level 1] - Other studies had a low risk for performance bias in that they masked placebo treatments by appearance and taste; in particular, 4 studies controlled for taste and smell by having participants wear a nose clip when consuming the supplement. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020); evidence level 1] - First, L-citrulline, one of the amino acids involved in the ureagenesis cycle, may facilitate the clearance of ammonia. [Rhim Hye Chang (2020); evidence level 1] - CK levels increased at 24 h post-exercise and remained elevate at 48 and 72 h, with no difference between CM and PL conditions. [da Silva DK (2017); evidence level 4] Evidence levels are sorting aids, not final clinical grades. Level 1 usually indicates systematic-review style evidence, level 2 indicates randomized trials or public-health guidance, and lower levels need more cautious wording. This page is educational. People with medical conditions, pregnancy, medication use, or unusual symptoms should ask a qualified clinician before changing supplements, medication, or treatment routines.

Sources

  1. Effect of citrulline on post-exercise rating of perceived exertion, muscle soreness, and blood lactate levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  2. Citrulline Malate Does Not Improve Muscle Recovery after Resistance Exercise in Untrained Young Adult Men.