Unit:
Department of Physical Education & Sport ScienceLibrary of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science
Supervisors info:
Βασίλης Πασχάλης
Καθηγητής Φυσικής Αγωγής και αθλητισμού
Καθηγητής στην ειδίκευση Ευρωστία και υγεία
Original Title:
Η επίδραση της L-κιτρουλίνης στον κορεσμό οξυγόνου κατά την άσκηση αναπνευστικών μυών
Translated title:
The effect of L-citrulline on oxygen saturation during exercise of respiratory muscles
Summary:
L-citrulline is a non-proteinogenic amino acid which is a precursor of nitric acid (NO). It is synthesized from ornithine and glutamine and is metabolized by the kid-neys to arginine. Research has shown that citrulline has the ability to improve athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to expand the measurement of oxygen saturation during exercise to the exhaustion of the respiratory muscles through the acute effect of 6gr L-citrulline. In the present study, 12 free athletes participated (age 24.8+-4.6 years, height 1.78+- 0.07 meters and body mass index 23.9+-1.2). Each examinee underwent two identical tests which were performed 5 days apart. The evaluation was performed using the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) instrument. The study evaluated the saturation of (O2) of the sternocleidomastoid muscle after administration of citrulline or placebo before exercise until exhaustion. The exercise consisted of 30 repetitions at 70%, 80% as well as repetitions until exhaustion at 90% of the maximum inspiratory pressure. The total number of measurements was four at a time. The first before supplementation, the second one hour later, the third during the last stage of an exercise protocol until exhaustion and the fourth 5 minutes after the specific protocol. The administration of L citrulline was doubly blind and at each visit a supplement was randomly selected which contained either placebo (flour and water) or L citrulline one hour before the test. The results of the research show that the inspiratory pressure as well as the measurement of oxygen saturation is not affected by the citrulline supplement in relation to the placebo. In conclusion, this study shows that acute intake of L-citrulline does not tend to increase the efficiency of the respiratory muscles.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Citrulline, Respiratory Muscles, Athletic Performance, Oxygen Saturation, Aerobic Capacity, Respiratory Function.
