Amino Age Generation 3: Why L-Citrulline Replaced NAC for Better Performance and Health

By Steve Born

Removing NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) from Amino Age was not an easy decision. It is an excellent ingredient with a wide range of health benefits, and it may well become a standalone supplement in the Hammer Nutrition range in the future. However, despite its advantages, NAC created several formulation challenges that made it unsuitable for continued use in Amino Age.

The original version of Amino Age (Generation 1) contained no natural flavouring, making NAC's characteristic sulphur-like smell very noticeable. Although the odour became much less obvious once the powder was mixed with water, many customers still found it unpleasant.

For Generation 2, natural orange flavouring was introduced to improve the taste and aroma. While this significantly reduced the smell, it did not eliminate it completely. In addition, NAC is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air, which caused the powder to clump over time. These ongoing issues led to the decision to remove NAC from the formula.

Introducing Amino Age Generation 3

The good news is that NAC has been replaced with an ingredient that offers outstanding health benefits without the drawbacks. The new addition has virtually no smell or taste, does not appear to clump, and provides an impressive range of scientifically supported benefits.

Welcome L-citrulline to the Amino Age formula.

What Is L-Citrulline?

L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that plays an important role in the body's urea cycle. It also serves as a precursor to L-arginine, an amino acid required for the production of nitric oxide (NO).

Research suggests that L-citrulline is more effective than L-arginine at raising the body's L-arginine levels because it is not significantly broken down in the digestive tract or liver before entering the bloodstream. As a result, it supports nitric oxide production more efficiently.

Supporting Cardiometabolic Health

One of L-citrulline's most important functions is its ability to increase nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide helps maintain healthy blood vessels by improving circulation and supporting normal blood flow.

This makes L-citrulline particularly valuable for cardiometabolic health, which refers to the combined health of the cardiovascular system (the heart and blood vessels) and the body's metabolic processes that convert food into energy.

Research has shown that reduced nitric oxide availability is associated with a number of age-related and lifestyle-related health conditions, including:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease

By supporting healthy nitric oxide production, L-citrulline may help promote better vascular function and overall cardiovascular wellbeing.

Helping to Reduce Inflammation

Studies have also demonstrated that L-citrulline supplementation may help lower markers of inflammation.

Research has reported reductions in inflammatory compounds such as:

• Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
• Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
• C-reactive protein (CRP)

These effects have been observed in both animal and human studies, suggesting that L-citrulline may support a healthier inflammatory response.

Antioxidant Benefits

L-citrulline also provides antioxidant support.

Evidence suggests it may help protect blood vessels by reducing oxidative stress, limiting the formation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), and supporting endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), an enzyme responsible for nitric oxide production within blood vessels.

These actions may contribute to healthier endothelial function and improved vascular health.

Exercise Performance and Endurance

L-citrulline is also well known for its benefits in exercise performance.

Research indicates that short-term supplementation may help:

• Lower blood pressure
• Improve oxygen uptake during exercise
• Increase endurance performance

In comparison, studies have found that L-arginine supplementation does not consistently produce the same improvements.

Summary

L-citrulline offers a broad range of scientifically supported health benefits, making it an excellent addition to Amino Age. Replacing NAC has eliminated the unpleasant smell and taste while introducing an ingredient that is easier to use and provides even greater overall benefits.

After three generations of product development, the Amino Age formula has been refined to deliver the highest possible quality and performance. Hammer Nutrition remains committed to improving its products whenever better ingredients or formulations become available.

Generation 3 of Amino Age is designed to provide comprehensive health support and represents the latest evolution of the formula.

References

1.   Care Access. What Is Cardiometabolic Health?

2.   Brandes RP, Fleming I, Busse R. Endothelial Aging. Cardiovascular Research. 2005.

3.   Forte P, et al. Basal Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Essential Hypertension. Lancet. 1997.

4.   Rajapakse NW, et al. L-Arginine Transport and Obesity-Induced Hypertension. Acta Physiologica. 2014.

5.   Halcox JP, et al. Coronary Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction. Circulation. 2002.

6.   Joffin N, et al. Citrulline and Ageing-Related Gene Expression. Biochem Open. 2015.

7.   Barkhidarian B, et al. Arginine and Citrulline Supplementation in Critically Ill Patients. Journal of Nutrition Science & Dietetics. 2016.

8.   Förstermann U, Li H. Enhancing Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2011.

9.   Journal of Applied Physiology. Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance.