L-citrulline Supplementation & Cold Exposure

Study Summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is considered the primary cause of death in the developed world. Large scale epidemiological studies indicate that prevalence of hypertension along with adverse cardiovascular events peak during the winter months. Moreover, during the winter months outdoor activities and physical stressors such as exercise have been associated with higher cardiovascular mortality when compared to other periods of the year. Although low environmental temperatures have been implicated as the triggering factor for cardiovascular complications, the mechanisms on how cold exposure increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality remain to be elucidated. However, new research suggests that cold exposure may induce increases in cardiac sympathetic activity, endothelial damage and increased arterial stiffness of central arteries. Cardiovascular drugs including antihypertensive pharmacological agents seem to be inefficient to provide appropriate therapeutic effects during cold exposure. Therefore, it is imperative to propose alternative non-pharmacological therapies intended to prevent the detrimental effects of low environmental temperatures on cardiovascular function. Recently, oral supplementation of the amino acid L-citrulline has been proposed as an effective therapeutic adjuvant for the treatment of hypertension. L-citrulline is known to enhance the bioavailability of L-arginine levels and increase endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production, one of the main modulators of vascular tone and blood pressure (BP). L-citrulline supplementation has been shown to increase endothelial function, reduce BP, and ameliorate endothelial oxidative damage without any adverse effects. Our group has demonstrated that L-citrulline supplementation attenuates the BP response to cold exposure (the cold pressor test, CPT). These studies suggest that L-citrulline supplementation may be a feasible therapeutic aid in order to prevent cardiovascular complications associated with cold ex

Interventions

• DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT L-citrulline