L-citrulline: what it is and how much is in LA BOMBA
What L-citrulline is, how it differs from citrulline malate, where it occurs in food, and why LA BOMBA lists 6000 mg per scoop.
In this article
L-citrulline is an amino acid that occurs naturally in watermelon and a few other foods. LA BOMBA contains 6000 mg of it per full scoop (18 g), as plain L-citrulline rather than citrulline malate. Here's what that means and how to read the number on the label.
What L-citrulline is
Citrulline is an amino acid, though not one of the standard amino acids that proteins are built from.
The "L" refers to the form of the molecule. Most amino acids exist in two mirror-image forms, called L and D. The L-form is the one found in food, and it's the form in LA BOMBA.
The name comes from Citrullus, the botanical name of the watermelon genus, because watermelon is where citrulline was first identified.
Citrulline vs citrulline malate
Pre-workout labels use two names that look alike but mean different things.
- L-citrulline is the amino acid on its own. 6000 mg of L-citrulline is 6000 mg of citrulline.
- Citrulline malate is citrulline combined with malic acid, an acid that occurs naturally in apples and other fruit. The ratio is often printed next to the name, for example 2:1.
The difference shows up in the numbers. With citrulline malate, part of the weight on the label is malic acid, so the amount of citrulline itself is lower than the number you see. How much lower depends on the ratio, and if no ratio is given, you can't work it out.
LA BOMBA uses L-citrulline, so the 6000 mg on our label is all citrulline. No conversion needed.
Where citrulline occurs in food
Watermelon is the best-known source, which is where the name comes from. Smaller amounts occur in related plants from the gourd family, such as melons and cucumbers.
How much citrulline a watermelon contains depends on the variety and how ripe it is, so we won't translate our 6000 mg into a number of slices. The useful point is simpler: citrulline is already part of an ordinary diet, not something that only exists in a tub of powder.
Why the dose is on the label
Every active ingredient in LA BOMBA is listed with its own amount per serving. Nothing is grouped under one total weight, so you can always see how much of each ingredient is in your scoop.
For L-citrulline, that means you can check three things yourself: the form (L-citrulline), the amount per full scoop (6000 mg) and the amount in the serving you actually take.
| Serving | Powder | L-citrulline |
|---|---|---|
| Full scoop | 18 g | 6000 mg |
| ¼ scoop | 4.5 g | 1500 mg |
In Belgium, the recommended serving is ¼ scoop (4.5 g), which contains 1500 mg of L-citrulline.
What we can and can't say about it
Under EU rules we can only make claims that are on the EU's list of authorised health claims. For L-citrulline there are none, so we stick to the facts. You can check this yourself in the EU Register of nutrition and health claims.
So this page covers what L-citrulline is, where it occurs and how much is in a scoop. Nothing more.
Before you use LA BOMBA
LA BOMBA contains more than citrulline, including caffeine. The warning on the label reads:
Contains caffeine (300 mg per full scoop, 75 mg per ¼ scoop). Not recommended for children, adolescents, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not exceed the recommended daily intake. Consult your doctor if you take medication. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Keep out of reach of young children.
How to use: 1 full scoop (18 g) in 300–400 ml cold water, 15–30 minutes before training. If you're new to it or sensitive, start with ¼ scoop. In Belgium, ¼ scoop is the recommended serving.
FAQ
Is L-citrulline the same as citrulline malate?
No. Citrulline malate is citrulline combined with malic acid, so part of its weight is malic acid. L-citrulline is citrulline on its own. LA BOMBA uses L-citrulline.
How much L-citrulline is in LA BOMBA?
6000 mg per full scoop (18 g) and 1500 mg per ¼ scoop (4.5 g), which is the recommended serving in Belgium.
Is citrulline the same as arginine?
No, they are two different amino acids. LA BOMBA contains both, each listed separately: L-citrulline (6000 mg per full scoop) and arginine AKG (2000 mg per full scoop), which is arginine bound to alpha-ketoglutarate.
Which foods contain citrulline?
Mainly watermelon, with smaller amounts in melons, cucumbers and other plants from the gourd family. The exact amount varies by variety and ripeness.
Are there EU health claims for L-citrulline?
No. There are no authorised EU health claims for L-citrulline, so we don't make any.
Want to check the numbers yourself? See the full LA BOMBA label on the product page.
LA BOMBA is a food supplement. Contains caffeine (300 mg per full scoop, 75 mg per ¼ scoop). Not recommended for children, adolescents, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not exceed the recommended daily intake. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Every dose on the label
12 active ingredients, all listed in milligrams, in Cherry or Blueberry.
