Investigation of acute effect of citrulline malate supplementation on maximal anaerobic power in elite boxers

This study aimed to determine the acute effect of 8 grams of citrulline malate supplementation 1 hour before exercise on the maximal anaerobic power level of elite boxers by measuring upper extremity peak power and velocity through bench press throwing and landmine punching (right-left arm) tests. The study group consists of 13 elite boxers aged between 18-22 years studying at Istanbul Gelişim University, who have at least 3 years of regular boxing experience and actively participate in competitions. The study was designed with a single group pretest-posttest experimental design. The purpose of the study was explained to the athletes and all tests were conducted twice at the familiarization stage before the study. Then, on the first measurement day of the study, the athletes' height, weight and 1RM bench press measurements were taken. On the second measurement day conducted after 48 hours, only bench press throw and landmine punch throw (right-left arm) tests were conducted. On the third measurement day 48 hours after the second measurement day, all athletes consumed citrulline malate supplement 10 minutes apart and measurements were taken again. The participants were kept under observation for the first 40 minutes as it was aimed to measure the effect of the supplement at its peak. Each participant started the warm-up protocol at 40 minutes and completed the bench press throw and landmine punch tests at 55 and 65 minutes. The effects of citrulline malate supplement on elite boxers was examined with comparison of the results recorded with and without citrulline malate supplement. The statistical analysis of the data in the study was evaluated using the SPSS 25 package program. In the reliability analysis, the In-Class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values of all variables were calculated. The normality distribution of the data was checked with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Pre and post performance measurements of the group were analyzed using the Paired T-Test. As a result of the study, it was found that acute use of 8 g citrulline malate supplement 1 hour before exercise in elite boxers showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in peak velocity (p=0.024) and peak power (p =0.048) of bench press throw, right arm landmine punch throw peak velocity (p<0.01) and peak power (p<0.01), left arm landmine punch throw peak velocity (p<0.01) and peak power (p=0.007).