Ingredient profile
L-Citrulline HCl and L-Citrulline Malate in MemoHoney: What 200 mg Can and Cannot Do
MemoHoney lists two citrulline lines per capsule: L-citrulline HCl 100 mg and L-citrulline malate 100 mg, 200 mg in all. The body turns citrulline into arginine. Exercise studies used 3 to 8 g, and the NIH says the research does not give strong support (NIH ODS, Exercise supplements). One capsule holds about one-fifteenth of the lowest dose studied.
Written by the MemoHoney editorial teamUpdated
On the label
What is L-citrulline, and how much is in MemoHoney?
L-citrulline is an amino acid the body makes on its own and also gets from a few foods, watermelon being the best known. MemoHoney prints it as two lines of 100 mg each, one HCl and one malate, for 200 mg of citrulline ingredients.
| Label name | L-Citrulline HCl |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Amino acid |
| What it is | Amino acid |
| Position in the list | 5 of 7 (every amount is printed per capsule) |
| Per capsule | 100 mg |
| Amount used in research | 3-8 g in exercise studies; weak support |
| Strength of evidence | No memory evidence |
| Traditional or marketed use | Amino acid the body turns into arginine |
| Main caution | Stomach discomfort in some studies; long-term safety not well studied. |
The table shows the HCl line. The malate line sits right below it on the panel, with the same 100 mg. Compare both with the rest of the formula on the MemoHoney ingredients overview.
Two forms
What is the difference between L-citrulline HCl and L-citrulline malate?
Both deliver citrulline. They differ in what the citrulline is bound to, which changes how much of each 100 mg is citrulline itself.
| Label line | Per capsule | Bound to | Research note |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-Citrulline HCl | 100 mg | Hydrochloride, a salt form | No study at this amount |
| L-Citrulline Malate | 100 mg | Malic acid, found in apples and other fruit | The form used in an 8 g weightlifting study |
The label does not say why it splits citrulline into two forms. Since part of each line's weight is the salt, the actual citrulline is somewhat under 200 mg.
In the body
How does L-citrulline turn into arginine?
The body converts citrulline into arginine, and arginine is what it uses to make nitric oxide. That chain is why citrulline is sold next to arginine in blood-flow and workout products.
Citrulline
Taken in from a capsule or food, or made by the body.
Arginine
The body rebuilds citrulline into arginine.
Nitric oxide
Arginine is the raw material for nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessel walls.
Each step is normal body chemistry. It does not prove that a supplement raises nitric oxide. Arginine itself, at grams a day, typically did not in exercise studies. More on that in L-arginine and AKG.
The studies
What are the benefits of L-citrulline, according to research?
Two exercise studies point in opposite directions, and the NIH calls the support weak.
41 weightlifters
Lifters who took it managed more repetitions and reported less soreness. Six of the 41 had stomach discomfort.
A treadmill test
Citrulline taken as 3 g before testing, or 9 g over 24 hours, did worse than a placebo.
Not strong support
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says the research does not provide strong support, and safety over months is not well assessed.
All three points come from the NIH ODS exercise fact sheet (NIH ODS, Exercise supplements). None of the studies measured memory, and none used a product like MemoHoney.
The memory question
Does L-citrulline help memory or the brain?
The sources we rely on say nothing about citrulline and memory. Its studied uses are blood flow and exercise.
The sales page links MemoHoney to blood flow to the brain, which is the brand's claim. Brain research on citrulline is mostly in animals or early, and none of it used a 200 mg dose in people. Our article on nitric oxide ingredients and memory covers that gap.
The NIH's complementary health center says not to use any supplement as a reason to put off seeing a provider about memory loss (NCCIH, Supplements for cognition). Some causes, such as medicine reactions, thyroid problems or depression, can be treated.
Ready to try MemoHoney?From $49 a bottle on 6 bottles · 60-day money-back window · free U.S. shipping on 3+
Order nowDose check
Is 200 mg of citrulline enough to matter?
It is about one-fifteenth of the smallest dose studied.
| Amount | Context | Compared with one capsule |
|---|---|---|
| 200 mg | One MemoHoney capsule, both forms | Baseline |
| 3 g | Taken before a treadmill test | 15 times more |
| 6 g a day | 4 weeks in nonathletes, no adverse effects | 30 times more |
| 8 g citrulline malate | Weightlifting study of 41 people | 40 times more |
Put simply, the study doses were measured in grams and MemoHoney's is measured in milligrams. Taking extra capsules to close the gap is not an option. The label says do not exceed the recommended dose, and one capsule a day is the full serving.
Safety
What are the side effects of L-citrulline?
Stomach discomfort is the one side effect the studies report, at gram doses. Up to 6 g a day for 4 weeks caused no adverse effects in nonathletes, but use over months has not been studied well (NIH ODS, Exercise supplements).
Because the body turns citrulline into arginine, ask your doctor first if you take blood pressure or ED medicines. Keep your prescribed medicine on its usual schedule.
The side effects page covers every ingredient in one place.
Keep exploring
How does L-citrulline fit with MemoHoney's other ingredients?
Citrulline is the smaller of the two nitric oxide groups, at half the weight of the arginine lines. Beta-alanine is the other workout amino acid on the panel.
FAQ
L-citrulline FAQ
What are the benefits of L-citrulline?
Its studied benefits are for exercise, and the evidence is weak. One study of 8 g citrulline malate found more reps and less soreness in weightlifters, while a 3 g or 9 g study did worse than placebo (NIH ODS, Exercise supplements). No memory benefit appears in the sources we cite.
Is L-citrulline malate better than L-citrulline?
No source we cite compares the two forms head to head. The malate form was used in the 8 g weightlifting study (NIH ODS, Exercise supplements), while HCl is another salt form. MemoHoney uses 100 mg of each, and the label does not explain why it includes both.
What is the difference between citrulline and arginine?
Citrulline is an amino acid the body converts into arginine. Arginine is the one used directly to make nitric oxide. That link is why the two are often sold together. MemoHoney has 400 mg of arginine ingredients and 200 mg of citrulline ingredients per capsule.
Is L-citrulline bad for your kidneys?
None of the sources we cite address citrulline and kidney health. If you have kidney disease, treat it as a known medical condition: the label says to consult a physician before using MemoHoney. Bring the bottle so your doctor can see every ingredient and amount.
Can I take L-citrulline with blood pressure medicine?
Ask your doctor first. Citrulline becomes arginine in the body, and arginine can lower blood pressure further when combined with blood pressure drugs (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine). The same goes for ED medicines such as sildenafil. MemoHoney's label does not name any of these drugs.
How long can you safely take L-citrulline?
Short-term use looks safe, but long-term use is not well studied. In nonathletes, up to 6 g a day for 4 weeks caused no adverse effects. The NIH says safety over months has not been adequately assessed (NIH ODS, Exercise supplements). MemoHoney's dose is much smaller than 6 g.
How much citrulline is in one MemoHoney capsule?
The label lists 100 mg of L-citrulline HCl and 100 mg of L-citrulline malate, 200 mg in all. Part of that weight is the salt, so actual citrulline is a bit lower. A bottle of 30 capsules lasts 30 days at one capsule a day.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the sales page and linked public health sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. retail desk that sells MemoHoney, not by the maker (the label says distributed by Instituto Experience, Ogden, UT). We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about MemoHoney
L-arginine
Both arginine lines in MemoHoney: nitric oxide basics, Mayo Clinic's list of uses, study doses and who should ask first.
Read moreBeta-alanine
Beta-alanine in MemoHoney: a workout amino acid at 40 mg, why it will not tingle, and what the label leaves unexplained.
Read more
Nitric oxide ingredients and memory
What NIH and Mayo Clinic report on arginine, citrulline and beta-alanine, and how far MemoHoney's doses fall short.
Read moreLicensed U.S. retail desk for MemoHoney
Ready to try MemoHoney?
Three packs on the sales page: 2, 3 or 6 bottles. The 6-bottle pack costs the least per bottle and ships free in the U.S.
- Secure checkout
- 60-day window
- Ships from the U.S. with tracking