Citrulline is an amino acid that was first found in watermelon, your body can naturally produce some on its own. However, you can increase your levels by taking BCS Citrulline, rather than relying on your body’s production alone. These higher levels may produce beneficial effects on health and exercise performance. Citrulline has important roles in the body, but unlike some amino acids, it is not used to build proteins. However, it plays a necessary part in the urea cycle, which rids your body of harmful compounds. Specifically, the urea cycle removes ammonia from the body. The final product of this cycle is urea, which your body gets rid of in urine. It can also help widen your blood vessels and may play a role in muscle building. Citrulline produces several important effects in the body, one major way it works is by increasing vasodilation. Vasodilation refers to the widening of arteries or veins. It’s associated with lower blood pressure and increased blood flow. After citrulline is consumed, some is converted to another amino acid called arginine. Arginine is converted into a molecule called nitric oxide, which causes vasodilation of blood vessels by relaxing the smooth muscle cells that constrict them. Consuming citrulline may increase arginine in the body more than consuming arginine itself. The increase in nitric oxide and blood flow may be one of the processes involved in citrulline’s beneficial effects on exercise performance. It may also reduce the liver’s uptake of certain amino acids and prevent their breakdown.