Now Foods L-Citrulline

Now Foods L-Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that is an important intermediate in the urea cycle, functioning along with Arginine and Ornithine to rid the body of ammonia, a byproduct of protein metabolism. Because Citrulline is a precursor of Arginine, it provides a readily available source material for Arginine production, which in turn, can be used for the production of Nitric Oxide (NO). NO plays a fundamental role in vascular function and blood flow. Citrulline therefore, not only supports detoxification pathways, but also supports NO production and a healthy cardiovascular system.

• Cardiovascular Health
• Promotes Nitric Oxide Production
• Supports Vascular Blood Flow
• A Dietary Supplement

What is Citrulline?
L-Citrulline (Citrulline) is an important non-essential amino acid for detoxification of the liver from ammonia (waste product from oxidation), rebuilding and muscle recovery. L-Citrulline is a precursor of L- Arginine and thus plays a role in regulating Nitric Oxide (NO) production. NOW provides 750mg of L-Citrulline in a gelatin capsule. Citrulline is found in high concentration in the liver and is not a component of any major proteins or enzymes. The amino acid citrulline is required to detoxify the liver from ammonia, which is a waste product of the body from oxidation. Citrulline promotes energy and stimulates the immune system. This unusual amino acid is formed in the urea cycle by the addition of carbon dioxide and ammonia to L-Ornithine. It is then combined with aspartic acid to form arginosuccinic acid, which is later metabolized into the amino acid L-Arginine. Citrulline is an amino acid that is part of the L-arginine – NO (nitric oxide) pathway. Citrulline helps to protect against shortages of arginine and can be converted to arginine. Some arginine is converted to NO, which improves arterial blood flow and relaxes blood vessels. NO also has antioxidant functions, helping to protect cardiovascular tissues from oxidative damage leading to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Arginine is known to be involved with wound healing, removing excess ammonia from the body, protein and sperm cell synthesis and promoting the secretion of essential hormones (growth hormone, glucagon for energy, insulin for blood sugar control, etc.). Dietary citrulline is clinically better than ornithine at supporting arginine levels and functions, even though citrulline is converted to ornithine as an intermediate step to its conversion to arginine. Arginine can also be converted back to citrulline. NOW uses only the natural “L” form of amino acids in our products; never the synthetic “D” forms. Not all amino acids have “l” and “d” forms, so these identifying letters may not appear on the label for certain aminos. NOW Citrulline is USP (pharmaceutical grade) and produced by natural microbial fermentation.

CAUTIONS:
Citrulline should not be taken at the same time as glutamine or glutamine-fortified products like some whey proteins. It can be taken at a different time of the day unless there is a severe arginine deficiency, in which case glutamine should be avoided until healthy arginine levels are restored. Those prone to viral cold sores might find that increased intake of arginine from arginine-rich food (nuts and chocolate) or supplements may provoke new incidences. This can often be avoided by taking the amino acid l-lysine at a different time of day, typically in servings of one to three grams per day (1,000 mg = one gram). Since citrulline supports arginine levels, cold sore sufferers may want to be aware of this possible side effect from high arginine levels. Arginine is not recommended for those who have suffered heart attacks, and anyone using medications should advise their physician before using arginine or citrulline.

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The NOW mission is - To provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives. NOW Foods is an award-winning and highly respected manufacturer of vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements and natural foods.

In 1948, with the natural food and supplement industry in its infancy, entrepreneur Paul Richard paid $900 for the purchase of Fearn Soya Foods—a Chicago based manufacturer of grain and legume-based products. This began a six-decade legacy of providing health-seeking consumers with high-quality, affordable nutrition products.

History of NOW
In 1968, NOW Foods was founded under the belief that good health was not a luxury available only to the wealthy. For the past forty years, NOW has made it their life's work to offer health food and nutritional supplements of the highest quality, at prices that are fair and affordable to all those who seek them. Today, NOW Foods is one of the top-selling brands in health foods stores, an award-winning manufacturer, a respected advocate of the natural product industry, and a leader in the fields of nutritional science and methods development. And while NOW has grown considerably over the past four decades, one thing has never changed – NOW's commitment to providing products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.

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