title: Impact of L-citrulline supplementation and whole-body vibration training on arterial stiffness and leg muscle function in obese postmenopausal women with high blood pressure.
abstract: Aging is associated with increased arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV) and muscle strength/mass loss. Exercise training alone is not always effective to improve PWV and lean mass (LM) in older women. To investigate the independent and combined effects of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) and L-citrulline supplementation on PWV and muscle function in women, forty-one postmenopausal women aged 58 ± 3 years and body mass index (34 ± 2 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to the following groups: WBVT, L-citrulline, and WBVT + L-citrulline for 8 weeks. WBVT consisted of four leg exercises three times weekly. Aortic (cfPWV) and leg (faPWV) PWV, leg LM index, leg strength, and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured before and after the interventions. WBVT + L-citrulline decreased cfPWV (-0.91 ± 0.21 m/s, P < 0.01) compared to both groups. All interventions decreased faPWV (P < 0.05) similarly. Leg LM index increased (2.7 ± 0.5%, P < 0.001) after WBVT + L-citrulline compared with L-citrulline. Both WBVT interventions increased leg strength (~37%, P < 0.001) compared to L-citrulline while decreased BF% (~2.0%, P < 0.01). Reductions in cfPWV were correlated with increases in leg LM index (r = -0.63, P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that leg muscle strength and arterial stiffness can be improved after WBVT, but its combination with L-citrulline supplementation enhanced benefits on aortic stiffness and leg LM. Therefore, WBVT + L-citrulline could be an intervention for improving arterial stiffness and leg muscle function in obese postmenopausal women with prehypertension or hypertension, thereby reducing their cardiovascular and disability risk.
authors: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1493, USA. Electronic address: afiguero@fsu.edu.
authors: Arturo
authors: A
authors: Figueroa
authors: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1493, USA. Electronic address: sa12d@my.fsu.edu.
authors: Stacey
authors: S
authors: Alvarez-Alvarado
authors: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1493, USA; Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1493, USA. Electronic address: mormsbee@fsu.edu.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Ormsbee
authors: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1493, USA. Electronic address: tam07g@my.fsu.edu.
authors: Takudzwa A
authors: TA
authors: Madzima
authors: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1493, USA. Electronic address: jcc12d@my.fsu.edu.
authors: Jeremiah C
authors: JC
authors: Campbell
authors: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1493, USA; Department of Physical Education, University of Puerto Rico- at Mayagüez, 259 Blvd. Alfonso Valdez Cabian, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico. Electronic address: alexei.wong@upr.edu.
authors: Alexei
authors: A
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002956:Citrulline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D002956:Citrulline
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Body fat; Lean mass; Muscle strength; Vibration exercise; l-Citrulline