Ingredient profile
L-citrulline DL-malate in Melonex: line 1 of the blend
L-citrulline DL-malate is the amino acid L-citrulline bound to malic acid, and it is the first and largest line of the Melonex blend. One capsule holds between about 167 and 500 mg of it, malate included. The body turns citrulline into arginine, which feeds nitric oxide. Blood pressure trials used 3 to 9 g of citrulline a day.
Written by the Melonex label deskUpdated
What it is01
What is L-citrulline DL-malate?
L-citrulline DL-malate is L-citrulline, an amino acid, joined to malic acid. Melonex lists it first in its blend, as "L-Citrulline DL-Malate".
Citrulline takes its name from Citrullus lanatus, the watermelon. Fresh watermelon holds about 0.7 to 3.6 g of it per kilogram, in both flesh and rind (Aguayo 2021, L-citrulline review).
Your body also makes citrulline. It is not one of the amino acids you must get from food.
| Name on the label | L-Citrulline DL-Malate |
|---|---|
| What it is | L-citrulline (an amino acid first found in watermelon) bound to malic acid |
| Place on the label | Line 1 of 3 in the 500 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per capsule | Not listed; line 1 of 3 in the 500 mg blend, so between about 167 and 500 mg per capsule |
| Amount used in research | About 3-9 g a day of L-citrulline in blood pressure trials; 3 g or more before exercise in sports studies |
| Strength of evidence | Small blood pressure drops in some trials; mixed |
| How it is meant to work | The body turns citrulline into arginine, the raw material for nitric oxide |
| Main caution | May add to blood pressure medicines, nitrates and erectile-dysfunction drugs. |
Amount02
How much L-citrulline DL-malate is in a Melonex capsule?
A Melonex capsule holds between about 167 and 500 mg of L-citrulline DL-malate. The label does not print the number, but line 1 of a three-part 500 mg blend must be at least a third of it.
The top of the range assumes the other two lines are close to empty, which is unlikely. An even split is the fairest middle guess.
| Scenario | 1 capsule a day | 2 capsules a day |
|---|---|---|
| Least the label order allows | About 167 mg | About 333 mg |
| Even split of the blend | About 167 mg | About 333 mg |
| Most the label order allows | 500 mg | 1,000 mg |
| Lowest dose in blood pressure trials | 3 g of citrulline a day (Barkhidarian 2019, citrulline meta-analysis) | |
The full blend math for all three lines is on the Melonex dose check.
In the body03
How does the body use citrulline?
The body uses citrulline mainly as a source of arginine. The liver and gut pass it on, and the kidneys convert about 83% of it into arginine (Aguayo 2021, L-citrulline review).
Because it skips that first loss, oral citrulline raised blood arginine more than oral arginine did in a dosing study (Schwedhelm 2008, citrulline kinetics). The highest dose in that study, 3 g twice a day, also kept arginine up between doses.
Arginine then becomes nitric oxide, which helps vessel walls relax. The full chain is drawn on how Melonex works.
Dose vs research04
What citrulline doses were used in studies?
Studies used grams of citrulline, not milligrams. Blood pressure trials gave 3 to 9 g a day (Barkhidarian 2019, citrulline meta-analysis). A review lists doses from 1.5 g twice a day up to 6 to 10 g a day, and a single 15 g dose (Aguayo 2021, L-citrulline review).
Exercise studies gave at least 3 g, 30 minutes or more before testing (Trexler 2019, citrulline exercise). The bars compare that with what one or two Melonex capsules can hold.
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See packsEvidence05
What did citrulline trials find for blood pressure?
Citrulline trials found a small drop in the top number and an unclear change in the bottom one. Eight trials at 3 to 9 g a day lowered systolic pressure by about 4.1 mm Hg; the diastolic change was not significant (Barkhidarian 2019, citrulline meta-analysis).
In trials using 6 g a day or more, diastolic pressure fell by about 2.75 mm Hg (Barkhidarian 2019, citrulline meta-analysis). A later review called the citrulline effect more questionable than arginine's, since one pooled analysis of five trials found no significant change (Khalaf 2019, arginine and citrulline).
Systolic
About 4.1 mm Hg lower at 3-9 g a day, in 8 trials.
Diastolic
No significant change overall; a small drop only at 6 g or more.
Melonex
No trial of the capsules, and no trial below 1 g a day.
Safety06
Is L-citrulline safe to take?
L-citrulline was well tolerated in short studies, with no stomach or gut side effects even at 15 g (Aguayo 2021, L-citrulline review). High doses of arginine, by contrast, caused nausea, vomiting or diarrhea in some studies.
Its main risk is how it adds to other things. Citrulline becomes arginine, so it may stack with blood pressure medicines, nitrates and erectile-dysfunction drugs.
If you take any of those drugs, ask your doctor before starting Melonex. Do not stop or change a prescription because of a supplement. Read side effects and interactions.
Next07
How does citrulline compare with the arginine lines in Melonex?
Citrulline is the indirect route and arginine the direct one. Line 1 is citrulline; lines 2 and 3 are arginine salts that together hold at most 333 mg a capsule.
Studies of the two side by side are explained in arginine vs citrulline. Use the links below to move between the four ingredient profiles.
FAQ08
Questions about L-citrulline DL-malate
Is citrulline malate the same as plain L-citrulline?
Not quite. Citrulline malate is citrulline joined to malic acid, so part of every milligram is malate. The label does not give the ratio, so the free citrulline in a Melonex capsule is somewhat below the 167 to 500 mg line weight.
Can I get the same citrulline from eating watermelon?
Watermelon does contain citrulline, about 0.7 to 3.6 g per kilogram of fresh fruit depending on the variety (Aguayo 2021, L-citrulline review). That is grams per kilogram of fruit, so matching a trial dose from food would take a lot of watermelon.
Does citrulline malate help with workouts?
Only a little, in studies. Twelve placebo-controlled studies giving at least 3 g before testing found a small gain in strength and power (Trexler 2019, citrulline exercise). A Melonex capsule holds at most 500 mg of citrulline malate, so it is far from that dose.
Does citrulline upset the stomach?
Rarely, based on short studies. A review found no gut side effects even at a single 15 g dose (Aguayo 2021, L-citrulline review). If you feel stomach upset on Melonex, the arginine lines are a more likely cause, and you should tell your doctor.
How many Melonex capsules would match a citrulline trial dose?
More than the label allows. Even if a whole capsule were citrulline, 3 g would take six capsules, and the label caps the dose at two a day. Do not take extra capsules to chase a trial dose.
Is citrulline a concern if my blood pressure runs low?
It can be. Citrulline turns into arginine, which may lower pressure further. A reading below 90/60 counts as low, and dizziness or fainting are warning signs (NHLBI, low blood pressure). Ask your doctor before starting Melonex if your readings already run low.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, AHA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized Melonex retailer, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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