Chronic l-citrulline supplementation improves cardiac sympathovagal balance in obese postmenopausal women: A preliminary report

Auton Neurosci. 2016 Jul:198:50-3. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2016.06.005. Epub 2016 Jun 24.

Abstract

The present study evaluated the impact of chronic l-citrulline (L-cit) supplementation on resting heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) in obese postmenopausal women. Participants were randomly assign to either an L-cit group (n=12) or a control group (n=11). HRV and BP were measured before and after 8weeks. There were significant decreases (P<0.05) in nLF (sympathetic activity), LnLF/LnHF (sympathovagal balance), and BP as well as a significant increase (P<0.05) in nHF (vagal tone) following L-cit compared with no changes after control. Our findings indicate that L-cit supplementation improves sympathovagal balance in obese postmenopausal women.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02143817.

Keywords: Heart rate variability; Sympathovagal balance; l-citrulline.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Citrulline / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • Heart / physiopathology
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Postmenopause / physiology
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / drug effects*
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Vagus Nerve / drug effects*
  • Vagus Nerve / physiopathology

Substances

  • Citrulline

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02143817