L-Citruline good? bad? thoughts?

bluefish

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L-Citruline is used to help boost blood flow etc.

What are peoples thoughts on this supplement?

and I guess is it Peaty or not? ... lol

I guess Im wondering about that fact that it boosts nitric oxide production in the body, I remember a Danny Roddy/Georgi podcast where they talked over this subject, I think.

I have a feeling its not good to supplement... but if it increases blood flow, why would that be so bad?

ok, Ill be more specific.

I have been experimenting with low dose use of sildenafil (viagra), and am considering also experimenting with L-Citruline. Im using both to augment my sexual performance, ah, looking into erection quality, and size, and duration etc.

I dont have ED or any issues, just exploring augmentation.

Low dose sildenafil (10mg), does seem to provide a nice boost, and so i was curious how adding L-Citruline to the mix might affect things. Ive been using 10mg of sildenafil a couple times a week, in theory id be using it 5 days a week but Im lazy and forget.
 
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h.c.

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When you increase your NO, you lower your testosterone, inhibit your cytochrome c oxidase, and you produce the compunds for peroxinitide (-> NO+OO => ONOO).

Important to remember: NO is a free radical, its a messenger and its only high in times of danger and then only short (-> iNOS-Induction).

L-Citrulline lowers the arginin processing arginase and increases you NO even more. I would not take it, or not take it over longer periods.

Bes,
Hans
 
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OP
bluefish

bluefish

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When you increase your NO, you lower your testosterone, inhibit your cytochrome c oxidase, and you produce the compunds for peroxinitide (-> NO+OO => ONOO).

Important to remember: NO is a free radical, its a messenger and its only high in times of danger and then only short (-> iNOS-Induction).

L-Citrulline lowers the arginin processing arginase and increases you NO even more. I would not take it, or not take it over longer periods.

Bes,
Hans
Ok. I’m not great w more in-depth explanations like this… I can follow a bit but that’s all.

So both viagra and l-cit are not helpful?
 
OP
bluefish

bluefish

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If you want to shorten your life or increase your oxidative stress for some "moments", then they are helpfull - from my point of view :cool:.
So far I’ve consistently found answers that improve my life on this forum… that’s why I’m double checking this on here. Thanks.

Although I’m still a bit skeptical that low dose viagra will cause any problems… I don’t doubt your reasoning but probably will look into it more…. Please don’t mistake this as not valuing your reply. My understanding of these things is low so I literally rely on people like you to sort this stuff out for me from time to time.
 

BogdanSav

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I've been using it regularly for a few years now. It has some benefits for exercise performance and can be beneficial if you have higher protein intake since it helps with ammonia detoxification.
The potential downsides can also be upsides depending on the context. Increase in free radical signilaing may be beneficial after exercise for increased adaptations theoretically.
 
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bluefish

bluefish

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I've been using it regularly for a few years now. It has some benefits for exercise performance and can be beneficial if you have higher protein intake since it helps with ammonia detoxification.
The potential downsides can also be upsides depending on the context. Increase in free radical signilaing may be beneficial after exercise for increased adaptations theoretically.
ok, this is helpful.
Do you take it before exercise?
Can you explain how it helps w higher protein intake? Thanks!
 

BogdanSav

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ok, this is helpful.
Do you take it before exercise?
Can you explain how it helps w higher protein intake? Thanks!
Yes taking it before exercise can be useful for improved blood flow and vasodilation. Taking it after can also be beneficial for the exercise adaption signaling.
Higher protein intake can increase ammonia build up which can contribute to some negative cognitive symptoms like brain fog. The ornithine cycle is part of the pathway that detoxifies ammonia into urea in the liver. Citrulline helps in that process.
My personal protein consumption is a bit excessive, ranging upwards of 200-250g most days.

If you want a real deep dive on the research and studies.
 

HeyThere

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L-Citruline is used to help boost blood flow etc.

What are peoples thoughts on this supplement?

and I guess is it Peaty or not? ... lol

I guess Im wondering about that fact that it boosts nitric oxide production in the body, I remember a Danny Roddy/Georgi podcast where they talked over this subject, I think.

I have a feeling its not good to supplement... but if it increases blood flow, why would that be so bad?

ok, Ill be more specific.

I have been experimenting with low dose use of sildenafil (viagra), and am considering also experimenting with L-Citruline. Im using both to augment my sexual performance, ah, looking into erection quality, and size, and duration etc.

I dont have ED or any issues, just exploring augmentation.

Low dose sildenafil (10mg), does seem to provide a nice boost, and so i was curious how adding L-Citruline to the mix might affect things. Ive been using 10mg of sildenafil a couple times a week, in theory id be using it 5 days a week but Im lazy and forget.

I changed my life when I started to take L-Ornithine. I discovered I had little Nitric Oxide in my system (tortureous stress, alchohol, etc). It took away my tight head, my daily migraines, my high blood pressure, my stiffness, etc. I could feel like blood was flowing freely in my body again.
There are 3 stages: L-Ornithine, L-Citrullline and L-Arginine. I do least well with L-Arg (feel weird), pretty well with L-C, but best on L-O.
 
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bluefish

bluefish

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I changed my life when I started to take L-Ornithine. I discovered I had little Nitric Oxide in my system (tortureous stress, alchohol, etc). It took away my tight head, my daily migraines, my high blood pressure, my stiffness, etc. I could feel like blood was flowing freely in my body again.
There are 3 stages: L-Ornithine, L-Citrullline and L-Arginine. I do least well with L-Arg (feel weird), pretty well with L-C, but best on L-O.
Very interesting… I googled a bit about each one. I know almost nothing about these enzymes. I’m still trying to figure out, if you use appropriately if it’s detrimental… obviously in your case it seems clearly helpful.
 
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bluefish

bluefish

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Yes taking it before exercise can be useful for improved blood flow and vasodilation. Taking it after can also be beneficial for the exercise adaption signaling.
Higher protein intake can increase ammonia build up which can contribute to some negative cognitive symptoms like brain fog. The ornithine cycle is part of the pathway that detoxifies ammonia into urea in the liver. Citrulline helps in that process.
My personal protein consumption is a bit excessive, ranging upwards of 200-250g most days.

If you want a real deep dive on the research and studies.
Are you aware of the Peaty view that raising NO is unhealthy? Do you think you can use L-cit in a way where the benefit outweighs the supposed harm?
 

HeyThere

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Very interesting… I googled a bit about each one. I know almost nothing about these enzymes. I’m still trying to figure out, if you use appropriately if it’s detrimental… obviously in your case it seems clearly helpful.

They are Amino Acids :)
 

HeyThere

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Lol. Sorry I knew that. But again… as it shows, This stuff is still not second nature to me. Anyways I started to look them up. It’s interesting.

If I had to guess, the damage with these Amino Acids comes when people take too much of it. You know, body builders and the like. I take a tiny amount. Like I do everything. Yes, too much Nitric Oxide turns bad, so don't take a lot. Seems simple enough to me *shrug*
 

TeslaFan

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There is a misconception that Arginine is the same as NO. It is not. Arginine is amino acid, which is used in production of NO, among other things. It does not mean that when a person takes Arginine it automatically raises NO. (Unless body actually needed to raise it and was deficient in Arginine at the time).
NO is required at proper levels, and Ray Peat writes about chronically elevated NO as an inflammatory marker. Proper context is often missed.
 

BogdanSav

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Are you aware of the Peaty view that raising NO is unhealthy? Do you think you can use L-cit in a way where the benefit outweighs the supposed harm?
Yes I'm aware of his views on Nitric Oxide.
When it comes to using citrulline as a supplement the overall evidence points to positive outcomes. I don't think it's inherently good or bad. I think it really depends on the context of what, when and how you use it.
The increases in NO as a result of supplementing with it will not necessarily lead to chronic elevation of NO.
 

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