http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/puBathmateed/24525046
J Cardiol. 2014 Feb 10. pii: S0914-5087(14)00021-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2014.01.003. [Epub ahead of print]
Oral l-citrulline malate in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and Eisenmenger Syndrome: A clinical trial.
Sharif Kashani B1, TaHydromaxaseb Pour P2, Malekmohammad M3, Behzadnia N4, Sheybani-Afshar F5, Fakhri M5, Chaibakhsh S6, Naghashzadeh F7, Aidenlou S5.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Citrulline is an amino acid which is produced by the urea cycle and also a precursor for NO, that is, a vasodilator for normal function of pulmonary vasculature. Thereby, enhancing l-citrulline malate in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and those with congenital heart disease identified as Eisenmenger Syndrome results in reduction of pulmonary hypertension.
METHODS AND SUBJECTS: In this clinical trial before and after study, we assigned 25 patients with arterial pulmonary hypertension (idiopathic or Eisenmenger Syndrome) to receive l-citrulline malate 1g three times daily for two weeks. The primary measurement was the change in exercise capacity, as considered as a result of the total distance walked in six minutes, from baseline to week 2. We also assessed mean pulmonary artery pressure, the change in the quality of life, and the change in pro-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level. The study was not powered to evaluate mortality.
RESULTS: The mean walking distance in six minutes was significantly increased by about 44m (p=0.005) after receiving l-citrulline malate. Mean pulmonary artery pressure significantly reduced from 83.34mmHg before receiving l-citrulline malate to 79.1mmHg after that (p=0.01). All dimensions of the quality of life had statistical differences after receiving l-citrulline malate except limit due to physical health, limit due to emotional health and social functioning (p>0.05). Finally, pro-BNP difference was not statistically significant (p=0.9).
CONCLUSION: l-Citrulline malate improves the distance walk in six minutes and also the quality of life of patients with idiopathic arterial pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger Syndrome and also reduced mean arterial pulmonary hypertension.
Copyright © 2014 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Eisenmenger Syndrome, Exercise capacity, Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, Quality of life, l-Citrulline malate
PMID: 24525046
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Now I know this isn't something topically administered; the l-citrulline is taken orally. Hey, and did you guys know that Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) was discovered after used originally for pulmonary hypertension as well? They accidentally stumbled upon the fact that Viagra used in a higher dose promotes degradation of cGMP, which regulates blood flow in the penis.
Awesome stuff. There was a news article from way back that suggested the fortuity of topically applied PDE-5 inhibitors may be the future of treatment for ED and all the benefits that go along with the drug class. Ah, here it is.
http://health.usnews.com/health-new.../topical-cream-for-erectile-dysfunction-shows
Otherwise I'm not really sure, maybe leech oil like you suggested.
