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RETRACTED ARTICLE: Effect of l-citrulline supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 33, pages 10–21 (2019)Cite this article

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A Retraction to this article was published on 05 November 2019

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to systematically investigate the efficacy of oral l-citrulline supplementation on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Studies were identified by a search of electronic databases from inception to April 2018, and combined and stratified analyses were used. Fifteen trials were identified, and data from 424 participants were included. Pooled analysis showed significant reductions in systolic blood pressure by −7.54 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI): −9.44, −5.63; P < 0.001, I2 = 14%) and diastolic blood pressure by −3.77 mmHg (95% CI: −5.67, −1.86, P < 0.001,I2 = 42%) following oral supplementation of l-citrulline or a watermelon extract. No changes were detected in controls. Significant heterogeneity (I2 = 42%, P = 0.04) was found for diastolic blood pressure, and subgroup analysis showed significant improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, particularly for study durations: ≥6 weeks, lower doses: ≤4 g/day, and in participants with higher baseline values: ≥130/85 mmHg. In conclusion, l-citrulline improves systolic and diastolic blood pressure and may be more efficacious in pre-hypertensive and hypertensive populations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Sepideh Mahboobi & Shahla Rezaei

  2. Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK

    Catherine Tsang

  3. Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Sadegh Jafarnejad

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  1. Sepideh Mahboobi
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Correspondence to Sadegh Jafarnejad.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

The Authors have retracted this article because there are fundamental errors in the data presented that undermine the conclusions drawn. Standard error was used instead of the standard deviation from two trials included in the meta analysis. This has seriously affected the overall effect. There have also been other inconsistencies noted in the values used in the calculations from the original studies. All authors agree to this retraction.

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Mahboobi, S., Tsang, C., Rezaei, S. et al. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Effect of l-citrulline supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hum Hypertens 33, 10–21 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-018-0108-4

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