Citrulline Malate Blood Pressure: What the Research Shows
Citrulline malate shows up in almost every pump formula, and the nitric oxide story behind it naturally raises a cardiovascular question: if it supports vasodilation during training, does it do anything to readings at rest?
That is one question, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a sales pitch. Below is what the human trials and systematic reviews actually measured, where the evidence runs out, and who should be careful.
The citrulline malate blood pressure question has a short answer: current evidence does not establish citrulline malate as a way to change resting blood pressure, and supplements are not a substitute for medical care [1]. Most citrulline malate trials measured reps to failure, power output, and perceived exertion rather than resting readings [2].
The closest relevant data come from the broader amino acid literature. A large systematic review of 884 randomized intervention trials across 27 micronutrients graded the evidence for L-arginine and L-citrulline on measures of normal vascular function as moderate to high quality [3]. That grading pooled many populations and many doses, and it did not isolate citrulline malate or resting measurements.
Mechanistically, oral L-citrulline and citrulline malate raise plasma citrulline and arginine along with total nitrate and nitrite, the markers tied to nitric oxide production and vascular function [4]. That is a plausible pathway, not a proven resting outcome.
If you are tracking your readings, that is a conversation for a healthcare professional rather than a supplement decision. Dietary supplements are not FDA-approved [1].
What does the research say about citrulline malate and blood pressure?
Citrulline malate is L-citrulline bound to malic acid. Almost all of the vascular research sits on the L-citrulline half, and almost all of the citrulline malate research sits on exercise outcomes.
What the trials measured
The largest citrulline malate synthesis to date pooled 30 randomized controlled trials and 644 participants and found a small improvement in overall exercise performance, with wide prediction intervals and limited statistical power [2]. A separate meta-analysis of four trials in resistance-trained adults found no overall effect on muscle strength [5]. Neither analysis was built around resting blood pressure, because that is not what these studies were designed to capture.
Where the vascular evidence comes from
The vascular evidence is mostly about L-arginine and L-citrulline as nitric oxide precursors rather than about citrulline malate as a product category. In the 884-trial micronutrient review, both amino acids were graded as having moderate- to high-quality evidence on measures of normal vascular function [3]. Reviews of menopause-related physiology also discuss L-arginine and endothelial function as part of the same nitric oxide pathway [6].
So the fair reading is this: citrulline supports normal blood flow and nitric oxide production in healthy adults [4], the broader amino acid literature on normal vascular function is graded reasonably well [3], but citrulline malate itself has not been shown to change resting readings in these trials [2]. For the deeper breakdown of the amino acid data, see what the L-citrulline blood pressure trials actually show.
How much does citrulline change blood pressure in studies?
There is no single reliable number to quote, and anyone giving you one is going beyond the published citrulline malate data. The exercise trials that dominate this literature did not report resting blood pressure as a primary outcome [2].
What we do know is the dose range researchers have used, which is useful context:
- 6 to 8 grams, 40 to 60 minutes before training, in the strength trials pooled for repetitions to failure [7]
- 3 grams per day for 6 weeks alongside a multicomponent exercise program in physically active women aged 60 to 75 [8]
- 8 grams per day for 4 weeks, combined with 500 mg of nitrate from amaranth extract, in professional female soccer players [9]
Those amounts tell you what was studied; they are not recommendations, and they are not cardiovascular protocols.
Why individual responses vary
Baseline matters. People with readings already in the normal range, trained athletes, and older adults do not respond to a nitric oxide precursor the same way, and sex-based differences show up repeatedly in the nitric oxide literature, where meta-analysis found no endurance performance effect in females for nitrate or polyphenol-rich foods [10]. Diet, sodium intake, sleep, training load, and medication all matter more than any amino acid serving.
The practical takeaway: treat citrulline malate as a training ingredient that supports blood flow during exercise [4], and monitor readings with your clinician using an actual cuff, not an expectation.
Can citrulline malate raise blood pressure?
There is no evidence in the reviewed human trials that citrulline malate raises blood pressure, and the mechanism points the other direction: it is a nitric oxide precursor that increases plasma arginine, nitrate, and nitrite, which is associated with vasodilation rather than vasoconstriction [4]. If you want the pathway explained step by step, see how L-citrulline works.
Why some people still see higher readings after a pre-workout
Citrulline malate rarely travels alone. Most pre-workout formulas are multi-ingredient, and the acute cardiovascular response you feel usually belongs to the stimulants, not the amino acid. One study of a pre-workout containing 200 mg caffeine, 3.3 g creatine, 3.2 g beta-alanine, 6 g citrulline malate, and 5 g BCAA improved jump, agility, and anaerobic power in well-trained basketball players, and that formula's stimulant content is the part with a known acute cardiovascular effect [11].
Caffeine is the ingredient to watch here. People sensitive to caffeine, anyone pregnant or nursing, anyone under 18, and anyone training in the evening should limit or avoid stimulant formulas [12]. For more on that specific question, read whether caffeine raises blood pressure.
The other usual suspects
Hard training itself raises blood pressure acutely, which is normal physiology and not a supplement effect. Dehydration, poor sleep, and measuring right after a set will all inflate a reading. If your readings are consistently elevated, stop troubleshooting your supplement stack and talk with a healthcare professional [13].
What happens if you take L-arginine and L-citrulline together?
This is a common question because many formulas include both. The rationale is straightforward: oral L-citrulline bypasses a large share of the gut and liver breakdown that limits arginine, and it reliably raises plasma arginine concentrations along with total nitrate and nitrite [4]. Pairing the two is intended to support arginine availability from two directions.
The honest caveat is that combining them has not been shown to produce large performance gains. The pooled effect of citrulline malate on exercise performance was small, with wide prediction intervals [2], and a meta-analysis in resistance-trained adults found no overall strength benefit [5]. Where acute effects have shown up most consistently is training volume: 6 to 8 grams of citrulline malate taken 40 to 60 minutes before lifting increased repetitions to failure by about 3 repetitions compared with placebo [7].
How it shows up in a pre-workout
Surge pre-workout capsules combine l-arginine (400 mg), l-arginine AKG (400 mg), l-citrulline (200 mg as HCl), citrulline malate (200 mg), beta-alanine (80 mg), and niacin (15 mg), with a label serving of 2 capsules 20 to 30 minutes before training. Those per-serving amounts are well below the 6 to 8 gram doses used in the repetition-to-failure trials [7], which is worth knowing when you set expectations. Supplements work best layered on top of consistent training and adequate protein, not instead of them [14].
Is citrulline malate safe, and who should be careful?
In healthy adults, citrulline malate has a good tolerability record in short trials. A 6-week randomized pilot using 3 grams per day with exercise in women aged 60 to 75 reported no adverse events during the intervention [8]. Larger acute doses of 6 to 8 grams have been used in strength trials without serious safety signals reported [7]. Digestive discomfort is the complaint most often mentioned at the higher gram-level doses, which is one reason label servings in capsule products are smaller.
Who should be cautious
- Anyone pregnant or nursing. A multicenter randomized trial of oral L-citrulline in 115 pregnancies with preeclampsia found no prolongation of pregnancy and higher liver enzymes at delivery in the treated group [15]. That is a specific clinical population, and it is a clear reason not to self-supplement during pregnancy.
- Anyone taking medication that affects circulation or blood vessels. Nitric oxide precursors act on the same pathway, so check with your prescriber first [13].
- Anyone under 18, or managing a diagnosed health condition. Supplement research is almost entirely in adults [1].
- Anyone using a stimulant pre-workout in the evening or who is caffeine sensitive [12].
Talk with a healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking medication, or managing a health condition. Dietary supplements are not FDA-approved, and quality varies between manufacturers, so third-party testing matters [1].
Frequently asked questions
How much does citrulline change blood pressure?
The published citrulline malate trials do not provide a reliable number, because they were designed around exercise outcomes rather than resting measurements [2]. A large review of 884 randomized trials graded the evidence for L-arginine and L-citrulline on measures of normal vascular function as moderate to high quality, without isolating any figure for citrulline malate [3]. Track readings with a clinician, not a supplement label.
Does citrulline malate raise blood pressure?
Nothing in the reviewed human trials suggests citrulline malate raises blood pressure. Its mechanism points the other way: it increases plasma arginine, nitrate, and nitrite, the markers linked with nitric oxide and vasodilation [4]. If your readings climb after a pre-workout, the stimulant content is the more likely driver, and caffeine-sensitive people, anyone pregnant or nursing, anyone under 18, and evening trainers should limit stimulants [12].
What happens if you take L-arginine and L-citrulline together?
Citrulline converts to arginine in the kidney and raises plasma arginine more efficiently than arginine taken alone, so the two are often paired to support nitric oxide production and blood flow [4]. Performance benefits from the combination are modest at best; pooled citrulline malate data show only a small overall effect on exercise performance [2]. Combining them is reasonable, but it does not multiply results.
How much citrulline malate for bodybuilding?
Research in resistance-trained adults used 6 to 8 grams taken 40 to 60 minutes before lifting, which increased repetitions to failure by roughly 3 repetitions versus placebo [7]. A separate meta-analysis found no overall effect on maximal strength [5]. For Surge, follow the label: 2 capsules 20 to 30 minutes before training. Any other amount belongs to the study that used it, not to the product.
Key takeaways
- Citrulline malate is studied mainly for training outcomes, and the pooled effect on exercise performance is small [2].
- A large micronutrient review graded the evidence for L-arginine and L-citrulline on measures of normal vascular function as moderate to high quality, without isolating citrulline malate [3].
- Oral citrulline reliably raises plasma arginine, nitrate, and nitrite, which supports normal blood flow during exercise [4].
- Strength trials used 6 to 8 grams taken 40 to 60 minutes pre-training; that is a study dose, not a product recommendation [7].
- Pregnancy, nursing, age under 18, and any medication affecting blood vessels are reasons to check with a healthcare professional first [15].
If you want citrulline malate alongside arginine in a simple capsule format you can take 20 to 30 minutes before training, take a look at Surge pre-workout capsules. Made in the USA in an FDA-registered, GMP-certified facility and third-party tested for purity and potency.
References
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements — What You Need to Know. ods.od.nih.gov
- Effects of Citrulline Malate Supplementation on Exercise Performance: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis. Nutrients (2026). PubMed 42356270
- Micronutrient Supplementation to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk. Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2022). PubMed 36480969
- Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature. Journal of strength and conditioning research (2020). PubMed 31977835
- Effects of Citrulline Malate Supplementation on Muscle Strength in Resistance-Trained Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of dietary supplements (2022). PubMed 34176406
- Cardiovascular Changes in Menopause. Current cardiology reviews (2021). PubMed 33155924
- Acute Effect of Citrulline Malate on Repetition Performance During Strength Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism (2021). PubMed 34010809
- Short-term citrulline malate supplementation enhances lower-limb function in physically active older women: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Clinical nutrition ESPEN (2026). PubMed 42162613
- Impact of Chronic Nitrate and Citrulline Malate Supplementation on Performance and Recovery in Spanish Professional Female Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients (2025). PubMed 40733006
- Effect of food sources of nitrate, polyphenols, L-arginine and L-citrulline on endurance exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2021). PubMed 34965876
- The Effect of Acute Pre-Workout Supplement Ingestion on Basketball-Specific Performance of Well-Trained Athletes. Nutrients (2023). PubMed 37242187
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Energy Drinks. www.nccih.nih.gov
- MedlinePlus: Dietary Supplements. medlineplus.gov
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance (Health Professional Fact Sheet). ods.od.nih.gov
- Oral citrulline supplementation in pregnancies with preeclampsia: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition (2025). PubMed 39638148
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet, training, or sleep. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking medication, or managing a health condition.