L-Citrulline

[MtnSurf]

My urologist in Chicago (Dr. Levine) suggested adding this to my intake. 750mg 2x/day. Not sure if its been mentioned here before.

Amazon.com: NOW Foods L-Citrulline 750mg, 180 Capsules,: Health & Personal Care

[NeoV]

I wrote a bit about this on another thread. Not sure why people aren't taking it. The only issue is that the body down regulates nitric oxide so much that citrulline and arginine basically stop increasing it after a few days. I would take them off and on or alternate. Perhaps there are other benefits besides just the N.O. boost as well. I remember getting hard erections from both supplements. Citrulline seems to be more effective than arginine from what I remember.

[Jonbinspain]

As far as I understand it, Citrulline converts to Arginine in the body. As such it provides more available N.O. The problem with taking Arginine directly is that most of it never reaches the bloodstream, it gets chewed up by bacteria in the stomach, etc. Citrulline can also be more easily tolerated in larger quantities.

If you are a gym regular, or are into anything that requires endurance, then Citrulline is the one for you. It provides far higher plasma levels of N.O.

Also, whichever one you decide to take, buy it in powder form- it's miles cheaper, and both are easily dissolvable in water.

[MtnSurf]

Good info guys, thanks for breaking it down. I picked some up from amazon

[Craig]

If I start taking l-citrulline, should I stop taking l-arginine? And why isn't l-citrulline more widely known to help with Peyronies? It seems everyone is on l-arginine instead.  

[MtnSurf]

@craig, my uro told me to continue with the 1000 mg L-arginine 2x/day and add the L-citrulline 750mg x2/day

[Craig]

If citrulline converts to arginine in the body, that may be WAY too much arginine for your kidneys to handle. One of my urologists said more than 2000mg of l-arginine a day will kill your kidneys, and to make sure you drink a lot of water while taking 2000mg/day. He also said the lowest dose of vitamin E available is toxic, and that l-arginine is the only thing that can help Peyronies, so I don't know how much credibility he has on the other hand.  

[MtnSurf]

@craig, I take one 1000mg L-arginine in morning with my pentox & other vitamins/supplements, then another 1000mg later in afternoon along with more supplements. If I take any more in same day it's only a 500mg strength L-arginine capsule before bed. I have to be honest I've never heard of any warnings about L-arginine and kidney damage, but that doesn't mean it's not true. I've been taking vitamin E in 400 or 200 IU for at least 8 years and have not had any issues with it that I'm aware of.

I need to call my uro for cialis renewal script. I'll ask him about mixing L-arginine with L-citrulline. It's a good point to bring up. I recently added Ubiquinol and CoQ10 once a day to my intake also. Who knows if mixing all this stuff is healthy for your body??

[inkhorn]

I take 3000 of l-arginine thru out the day. I too have never read about it being a problem for the kidneys. That being said any pill or supplement makes the liver and kidneys work harder. Years ago before I had any of my current problems, I used to take 5000 one hour before sex and it worked like ED meds. Regards Inkhorn

[MattFoley]

Guys, I've been screaming about Citrulline here forever.

Here's what I've said:

Citrulline

This amino acid is so closely related to arginine that in the body, it is actually converted into arginine. However, citrulline may boost Nitric Oxide (NO) levels even better than its cousin because cells in the digestive tract are always starving for arginine, and they tend to grab it before it can get into the bloodstream and be converted into NO. The intestines are not interested in citrulline in the slightest, however, which means that it passes straight through them and into the bloodstream. One study, published in 2008 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, found that when subjects took equal amounts of citrulline and arginine, the citrulline increased levels of arginine and
NO in the blood more than taking arginine did. Check this out: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291275/

Suggested use: 3 to 5 grams 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity and workouts.


The only negative being that it's more expensive than arginine. So, take it in powder form because capsules are too expensive and unnecessary.

As for the brand and where to buy it, I HIGHLY recommend this one:

http://www.vitacost.com/primaforce-citrulline-malate-2000-mg-200-g


Guys, the Primaforce brand is unmatched. It's the best quality brand I've ever found. Everything Primaforce makes is top quality and the pricing is excellent. Anyone looking to buy some now should take note that there's a sale going on at the vitacost.net website on this product.

[MtnSurf]

Thanks for the explanation & info Matt.  

[Craig]

Thanks for the info Matt, but I think I'll get the 750mg pills. Powder form's always messy, less accurate, and kind of disgusting I think. I'd rather just pop a pill personally. Does anyone know what the best quality/brand of 750mg l-citrulline is? Is NOW Foods any good?

[NeoV]

Popping pills is easier, but I have to say I love primaforce's citrulline too.

It's natrually sour stuff, so it's great with anything sweet or just on it's own.

[Jonbinspain]

I sometimes make up a cocktail of Citrulline, Alc, and Daa. Doesn't taste great, to be honest. But it certainly gets to the parts that other cocktails don't reach!...

[MtnSurf]

@Jonbinspain or anyone else. What's DAA?

[Jonbinspain]

Mtn surf;
D-Aspartic acid. It works on the brain causing it to release Luteinizing hormone, amongst others. It is thought to build up in the testicles causing them to release more testosterone. For me, anyway, taken with the other two ingredients, it certainly seems to, shall we say, bring on certain thoughts!...

Apart from that, keeping testosterone levels up is very important in the fight against this damnable disease.

[MattFoley]

Guys, let me sing the praises of D-Aspartic Acid!!

I posted some info about that in my testosterone topic a while back. Please check it out.

I used that stuff prior to my testosterone replacement therapy and I will vouch for it that it will definitely raise your testosterone levels so much that you are constantly horny. If I could budget it, I would definitely add it back into my protocol.


D-Aspartic Acid

Produced in the pituitary gland and the testicles, this amino acid (also known as D-aspartate) stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone, which boosts testosterone production and acts on Leydig cells (special cells in the testicles) to increase testosterone production as well as the production of sperm. One study, published in a 2009 issue of the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, found that subjects who had taken a D-aspartate supplement daily for 12 days increased their testosterone levels by more than 40 percent.

Suggested use: Take 3 grams in the morning

https://www.peyroniesforum.net/index.php/topic,3052.msg47106.html#msg47106



Craig:

Instead of the capsules, consider using the scoop that comes with the PrimaForce L-Citrulline and mix it with some protein powder. It's cheaper to do it that way than capsules. Plus, you can't beat the quality of PrimaForce.

[Craig]

I just got the 750mg L-citrulline pills in the mail, so I'll start those. I was never big on powders and still have my l-arginine powder I stopped taking. You have to waste a cup, waste water, waste a spoon stirring, waste time, the powder gets stuck to the cup so you don't know how much you're getting, I just think a pill is easier.

As for the D-aspartic Acid, wouldn't taking this regularly reduce or stop your body's natural production of it? Do you have to cycle it? If so, how long are the cycles/what are the recommended cycles?

And is there any way you can increase your testosterone without increasing your libido? My obnoxiously high libidos been my biggest enemy in my fight against Peyronies.  

[Jonbinspain]

Yes, correct. Daa should always be cycled. It is normally recommended to take it for 12 consecutive days before taking a week off. Then repeat the cycle.

Sorry guys, I should have mentioned that before.  

[MattFoley]

Craig:

As for the D-aspartic Acid, wouldn't taking this regularly reduce or stop your body's natural production of it? Do you have to cycle it? If so, how long are the cycles/what are the recommended cycles?

I agree with Jonbinspain that you need to cycle but cycling after only a week is really too short of a cycle. My understanding is that you can go 6 to 8 weeks out without a problem then go off of it for a couple of weeks.


And is there any way you can increase your testosterone without increasing your libido? My obnoxiously high libidos been my biggest enemy in my fight against Peyronies.

If there is, I don't know anything about it.

[Jonbinspain]

Craig:

Again, I'm not sure who is correct on this. The 12 days on 7 days off is what is recommended by the supplier that I buy from. As I also use an aromatase inhibitor, I tend to alternate them.

If your libido is already that high, it's unlikely that you have a low testosterone problem anyway. If you need to know for sure, then ask for it to be tested.

[MtnSurf]

My buddy who is big into lifting weights takes DAA for a month then skips the next month. He thinks it gives him more drive at the gym

[Jonbinspain]

I don't think it's a type of placebo effect. It certainly makes me more aggressive, particularly in the gym.

[MattFoley]

Absolutely.

Anything that raises your testosterone is going to raise libido and aggressiveness. I love how it makes me feel. I'm looking forward to adding HGH to my program as well.

[Craig]

Can't you have low testosterone and a high libido? (think girls on their periods). I find my libido at any given time has a very high correlation to the amount of seamen in my body. So if I take protein powder or don't ejaculate for a few days, my libido is through the roof. And I don't think my testosterone is quadrupling in the matter or a couple days either. Does anyone know how strong the correlation is between testosterone level (free or total) and libido in men?

[inkhorn]

I can confirm that when doing any HRT, my libido increases. I have done cycles(for lack of a better term) of HGH, and testosterone. Test alone. Testosterone and Sermorline. No matter what I use when the "T" level is higher and the pituitary is cranking, I'm a lot hornier. Regards Inkhorn

[MattFoley]

Craig, yes that's true. Our bodies are complex and any number of factors can be the cause of rising libido. Pretend you just won the lotto. How horny are you going be now?  

[james1947]

Matt

One of my girlfriends that was living with me in the past was saying that my libido is directly connected to my purse thickness
And she is correct. Financial problems reducing my libido drastically.  

James

[MattFoley]

James, that is so true. I find that I'm at my peak libido when I'm sitting on a bunch of cash. Of course, it also will raise her libido if you keep buying her gifts.  

[james1947]

Yes, it will also rise her libido if you have good character.
(I mean a full wallet)

James