Primaforce citrulline malate is a popular muscle-building and pre-workout dietary supplement. It is used largely as a performance enhancer by bodybuilders and other athletes.
Citrulline malate (CM) is a combination of the amino acid L-citrulline and malic acid (malate). CM is commonly used before workouts to increase ATP production and support increased blood flow and amino acid delivery to muscle cells.
Research supports its use for helping reduce muscular fatigue, increase strength and promote muscle growth. Citrulline Malate is also used for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, Alzheimer’s disease and high blood pressure.
According to the manufacturer, this supplement “Enables you to exercise longer and harder by removing ammonia from your body before it can cause muscle fatigue.” It is purported to increase stamina, help athletes push harder during their workouts and help your muscles recovery faster following exercise.
How does Primaforce citrulline malate powder work and what is the best way to use this supplement?



- Shown to raise blood arginine levels
- Increases Nitric Oxide & Growth Hormone
- Delays onset of fatigue during intense training
Primaforce Citrulline Malate and Nitric Oxide
Related Topics
- L-Citrulline
- Citrulline Malate
- L-Citrulline Supplements
- L-Citrulline Benefits
- Citrulline Malate Effects
- L-Citrulline Dosages
- Citrulline Malate Dosages
- L-Citrulline Foods
- Potential Side Effects
- Citrulline for Bodybuilding
- L-Citrulline for Depression
- Citrulline Malate Reviews
- Primaforce Citrulline Malate
- L-Arginine vs. L-Citrulline
The majority of citrulline malate’s benefits for athletes are attributed to its capacity to stimulate nitric oxide (NO) synthesis.
L-citrulline is an intermediate in the urea cycle. It is used by the body to clear nitrogenous substances from the cells.
The urea cycle is a chain of chemical reactions which occur inside the liver and kidneys. It converts ammonia (NH3) to urea.
If ammonia accumulates excessively in the system, then brain damage, coma and death may result. If it accumulates in the muscles, then fatigue and weakness result.
One step in the urea cycle involves converting L-citrulline into L-arginine, which is then released into the bloodstream. Some serum L-arginine gets converted to NO. This occurs in endothelial cells which line circulatory vessels; as well as certain tissues, cavities and organs.
Nitric oxide is a strong vasorelaxant. That means it acts to relax endothelial cells and promote their expansion.
Primaforce Citrulline Malate Effects on Circulation
Routinely using Primaforce citrulline malate can help to upregulate NO synthesis and thereby stimulate vasodilation. It is more effective than L-arginine powder as a nitric oxide booster.
When vasodilation occurs in blood vessel endothelium, the vessels are able to open up in diameter. This diametric expansion enables more blood to be delivered with no increased cardiac workload.
By increasing blood flow, more nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the muscles. This facilitates recovery between sets of exercise, and after workouts.
It can also result in improved muscle protein synthesis, as more amino acids are transported to skeletal muscle tissue. This is important for maximizing bodybuilding results.
Research shows that citrulline mallate can also reduce the severity and frequency of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness).
Primaforce Citrulline Malate and Fatigue
When ammonia, lactic acid and/or other nitrogenous substances increase inside muscle tissues, intramuscular pH balance is disrupted. Muscular acidosis results when the tissues become acidic.
When muscles are too acidic, they lose contractility. This results in the inability to contract, weakness and subsequent poor performance.
Primaforce citrulline malate can help to buffer away toxic substances which build up and hinder physical performance. It helps to restore proper pH balance in the muscles, which in turn restores contractility and strength.
In a double-blind, randomized, 2-period crossover study, 41 men received either a placebo or 8 grams of citrulline malate daily.
The CM group demonstrated 18% average strength gains ¼ of the way through workouts relative to the placebo group. This percentage rose to 53% toward the ends of workouts.
Primaforce Citrulline Malate and Muscle Soreness
Bodybuilders and other who use Primaforce citrulline malate report noticeable reductions of post-workout muscle soreness. When muscles are able to recover rapidly and effectively between workouts, training volume can be safely increased to maximize results.
With sustained vasodilation, the muscles have more blood and blood constituents delivered. These include amino acids, hormones, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. When these nutrients are increased, muscles are able to use them to heal and grow more efficiently in between workouts.
In the study mentioned above, all the men in treatment group reported significantly less muscle soreness at 24 and 48 hours after workouts.
Primaforce Citrulline Malate Ratio
In order to keep production costs low, some citrulline malate supplement manufacturers use a 1:1 ratio between L-citrulline and malic acid.
In the research which has yielded positive results for enhancing athletic performance, a 2:1 ratio was used. Primaforce citrulline malate is manufactured utilizing a standardized 2:1 ratio.
Look for products which have L-citrulline and malic acid that have been chemically bonded, instead of simply being mixed together.
Citrulline malate supplements are more expensive relative to some other performance-boosting supplements; like creatine and beta alanine, for instance.
Some bodybuilders suggest using products like bulk Primaforce citrulline malate powder to make homemade preworkout formulas. Many popular preworkout supplements used do not contain the recommended 6-to-8 grams of CM needed for bodybuilding purposes.
Primaforce Citrulline Malate Side Effects
There are no serious side effects associated with proper use of Primaforce citrulline malate supplements. A small percentage of users report stomach upset. Some experience diarrhea.
Follow dosing instructions from the manufacturer closely and monitor yourself for the development of any adverse effects. Some users begin at half the recommended amount and then slowly increase the daily dosage to the full recommended amount over a couple weeks.
Primaforce citrulline malate demonstrates antihypertensive properties. It is not recommended for combined use with nitrates, PDE-5 inhibitors, or other substances which can affect blood pressure.
Conclusions
Research shows that using products like Primaforce citrulline malate may be of most benefit for athletes who engage high-intensity, high-volume, high-frequency training schedules.
CM seems to work best in workouts with higher repetitions per set (above 8), high per-session workloads and short resting period between sets. This type of workout causes more ammonia release, lactic acid release and muscular acidosis.
For those engaging lower-rep sets, or long between-set resting periods, Primaforce citrulline malate can still be beneficial for decreasing muscle soreness after workouts.
L-citrulline is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women because not enough is known about its safety in lactation and/or gestation.
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Article last updated on: April 5th, 2018 by Nootriment