Citrulline, Biomarker of Enterocyte Functional Mass and Dietary Supplement. Metabolism, Transport, and Current Evidence for Clinical Use.
L-Citrulline is a non-essential but still important amino acid that is released from enterocytes. Because plasma levels are reduced in case of impaired intestinal function, it has become a biomarker to monitor intestinal integrity. Moreover, oxidative stress induces protein citrullination, and antibodies against anti-citrullinated proteins are useful to monitor rheumatoid diseases. Citrullinated histones, however, may even predict a worse outcome in cancer patients. Supplementation of citrulline is better tolerated compared to arginine and might be useful to slightly improve muscle strength or protein balance. The following article shall provide an overview of L-citrulline properties and functions, as well as the current evidence for its use as a biomarker or as a therapeutic supplement.
['Maric|Stefano|S|', 'Restin|Tanja|T|0000-0002-8816-6069', 'Muff|Julian Louis|JL|0000-0003-2032-7863', 'Camargo|Simone Mafalda|SM|', 'Guglielmetti|Laura Chiara|LC|0000-0002-7414-693X', 'Holland-Cunz|Stefan Gerhard|SG|', 'Crenn|Pascal|P|0000-0002-8213-2319', 'Vuille-Dit-Bille|Raphael Nicolas|RN|0000-0002-0884-9493']
D015415:Biomarkers D000076302:Citrullination D002956:Citrulline D019587:Dietary Supplements D020895:Enterocytes D006801:Humans D053580:Muscle Strength D000074702:Proteostasis
citrulline L-citrulline arginine amino acid supplementation glutamine