Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Body Weight in Patients With Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery

Abstract

Background Many health benefits have been proposed for citrulline, but they lack evidence based on human research. This study was to evaluate whether an oral citrulline supplement affects body weight changes and laboratory values in patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. Methods Patients who underwent hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery during January to June 2015 were screened for analysis. Patients using citrulline during hospital stay and at discharge were classified as the citrulline group, whereas those without any records of citrulline were designated as the control group. The primary efficacy outcome was the change in body weight at discharge and at first outpatient visit. Other outcomes included change in laboratory values. Results A total of 138 patients were included in analysis. Citrulline group and control group did not differ with respect to baseline characteristics except for white blood cell count. Percent in change of body weight and body mass index from discharge to first outpatient visit was significantly different between the 2 groups, showing less weight loss in citrulline group than in controls (−0.8 ± 2.7% vs −2.5 ± 3.8%, P < 0.05). Especially in men, citrulline use significantly affected weight loss from the multivariate analysis (P < 0.05); percent change in weight in citrulline group was predicted to increase by 2.1 units. During hospital stay, significant differences between the 2 groups were found in changes of cholesterol and protein levels. Conclusion Citrulline supplement reduced weight loss in surgical patients during recovery.

Chemotherapy-Induced Changes in Plasma Amino Acids and Lipid Oxidation of Resected Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Background for Future Studies

“…During FOLFOX therapy, the patients likely experienced a progressive intestinal dysfunction as indicated by the progressive reductions in plasma citrulline [89][90][91], partly responsible for low arginine formation [89,92].…”

“…One example of attenuated metabolic alterations during XELOX may be the time courses of citrulline [89][90][91] whose increase expresses reductions in intestinal inflammation and dysfunction, and hence less enterocyte AA overconsumption.…”