An amino acid found in watermelon may play a key role in decreasing post-exercise muscle soreness, according to a study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
The antioxidant properties and potential to increase muscle protein and enhance athletic performance of watermelon juice have been addressed in research, but the researchers involved in the current study wanted to determine how effective watermelon juice drinks enriched with amino acid L-citrulline were. They gave subjects natural watermelon juice, watermelon juice enriched with L-citrulline, or a control one hour before exercise. The results showed that subjects who consumed the natural juice or the enriched juice had relieved muscle soreness after exercise. The researchers noted that the L-citrulline in natural juice that was unpasteurised appeared to be more bioavailable.