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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
L-Citrulline vs Sodium Bicarbonate: Sodium Bicarbonate has the stronger overall evidence (7.5 vs 6/10); they're alternatives for improve endurance — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Sodium Bicarbonate wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Likely helps
3 of 4 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Verdict
Likely helps
3 of 4 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both L-Citrulline and Sodium Bicarbonate have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
3-6g (or 6-8g citrulline malate)
30-60 minutes before exercise, Or split doses throughout day
L-Citrulline powder (pure form)
0.2-0.3g per kg bodyweight (14-21g for 70kg person)
60-180 minutes before exercise, Split into multiple doses
Pharmaceutical-grade sodium bicarbonate powder or capsules
1-2 weeks
24-48 hours post-exercise
30-60 minutes
With doses >10g
Acute (1-3 hours)
Acute
Absence of Effects of L-Arginine and L-Citrulline on Inflammatory Biomarkers and Oxidative Stress in Response to Physical Exercise: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2023) · Meta analysis
We observed no difference between pre- vs. post-exercise for oxidative stress (subtotal = -0.21 [CI: -0.56, 0.14], p = 0.24, and heterogeneity = 0%.
Effects of Citrulline or Watermelon Supplementation on Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2025) · Meta analysis
Overall, CIT supplementation had no substantial effects on body mass index (BMI), body weight, fat mass (FM), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BFP), and fat-free mass (FFM).
Effect of food sources of nitrate, polyphenols, L-arginine and L-citrulline on endurance exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2021) · Meta analysis
No effect on exercise performance following consumption of foods rich in L-citrulline was identified (SMD=-0.03, p=0.24).
Sodium Bicarbonate Treatment and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease with Metabolic Acidosis: A Meta-Analysis
Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN (2024) · Meta analysis · n=2037
Fourteen RCTs comprising 2037 patients demonstrated that sodium bicarbonate supplementation significantly improved eGFR (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03 to 0.63; P = 0.03).
Nutritional Ergogenic Aids in Cycling: A Systematic Review
Nutrients (2024) · Systematic review · n=701
However, no statistically significant effects were identified for the remaining supplements, whether administered individually or in combination.
Effects of Different Dietary Supplements on Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2024) · Meta analysis
L-arginine (Arg) demonstrated superior performance to the placebo (SMD = -1.66, 95% CI [-2.92, -0.44]), emerging as the most effective intervention for reducing 100 swimming time (SUCRA = 89.5%).
The ISSN position stand (PMID 34503527) reviews single-dose trials at 0.2 to 0.5 g/kg: 0.2 g/kg appears to be the minimum dose that improves performance, 0.3 g/kg the optimum, and 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg add no benefit over 0.3 g/kg while causing more frequent and more severe side effects such as bloating, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, so the curve is flat above 0.3 g/kg while side effects rise. The benefit is mainly for high-intensity efforts of 30 seconds to 12 minutes. At 0.3 g/kg, a crossover trial in 14 trained cyclists improved 40 km time trial performance (PMID 39068627), and a meta-analysis found effects on anaerobic but not aerobic metabolism (PMID 33546730).
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
Sodium Bicarbonate has a higher evidence score (7.5/10 vs 6/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For improve endurance, Sodium Bicarbonate has a higher relevance score (90 vs 85).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.