Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single intake of citrulline at 3 g and 6 g doses in adult elite soccer players performing sport-specific exercise.
Materials and methods: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study analyzed 18 soccer players from the top divisions of three European countries. Participants were randomized into three groups of six each and performed a field-based soccer-specific test for 18 min. Comparative analysis of heart rate, fatigue and post-exercise recovery was conducted.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences in most of the analyzed parameters, nor at any of the time points for lactate concentration. Players' RPE exercise test score did not reveal any differences.
Conclusions: Neither a single intake of 3 g nor of 6 g of citrulline malate affected physical performance, subjective feelings of fatigue or post-exercise recovery in adult elite soccer players who performed a soccer-specific test.
Keywords: citrulline; creatine kinase; elite soccer players; fatigue; lactate; performance; rating of perceived exertion; soccer.