Just came across conflicting information on the usefulness of Citrulline or Arginine in UC.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.103571The above paper claims
- These findings suggest that citrulline promotes a stronger anti-adhesion effect and NO production compared with the same dosage of arginine, and also the efficacy of citrulline might be enhanced by increasing the concentration.
- These findings showed stronger effects than administration of arginine and citrulline alone. It is showed that citrulline has a prebiotic-like ability, therefore, supplementation of citrulline with LH511 has a synergistic effect on improving intestinal epithelial barrier functions.
Take home message - Citrulline is beneficial.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00066This study uses the DSS-induced colitis mouse model and claims that Arginine supplementation helps, but DSS is removed after colitis induction so not exactly the same as us being in a flare.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ibd.21035Claims that serum L-Arg levels increase and colonic tissue Arg levels decrease as the severity worsens because of the defective uptake mechanism.
https://doi.org/10.1097/mib.0000000000000790In this human study, they conclude
In considering L-Arg as a therapy in humans, our data indicate that there are diminished tissue L-Arg levels and availability in UC tissues, leading to the possibility that supplementation could correct this deficiency. However, we also identified a reduction in the gene expression of the inducible transporter of L-Arg, SLC7A2, which likely contributes substantially to the diminished tissue L-Arg we observed.
So taken together, if you supplement Citrulline/Arginine when in remission, it may help you with minor flare inducers but if you use it in the flare, it may not help due to transporter being downregulated.
Hence, I would like to know if anybody supplemented Citrulline/Arginine and found it helpful.
I have seen some old posts by @OldMike but they are inconclusive (to me).