Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics 2 2 2017 08 01 103 103 EN Bahareh Barkhidarian Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Shirin seyedhamzeh Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Seyed Issac Hashemi Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohsen Nematy Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Ashraf Rahbar Shahid Kamyab Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Roya Ranjbar Shahid Kamyab Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammad Safarian Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2017 06 19 2017 06 19 Background: Citrulline is a nonessential amino acid that is a main precursor of Arginine and therefore could be a best alternative for arginine supplementation. The current study aimed to assess the effects of Arginine and Citrulline administration on inflammatory factors (C-reactive protein (CRP), interlukine-6 (IL-6)) in critically ill trauma patients. Method: A total of 102 patients in 5 traumas intensive care units (ICU) were divided into three groups: Arginine, Citrulline and Control. Patients received 10 g/d Arginine powder (Arginine Group) or 10 g/d Citrulline powder (Citrulline Group) for 10 days. Serum level of CRP, IL-6 were determined in all patients before (day 0) and after intervention (day 11) and their correlation with APACHE II as an indicator of severity of disease were assessed. Results: There were significant reduction in IL6 levels only in Citrulline group (P=0.009). Moreover, serum levels of CRP decreased in both experimental group but it was elevated during study period in Control group (mean changes in control group were 0.28 ±19.66, in Citrulline group -11.16 ± 22.72 and in arginine group it was -1.12 ± 28.30) which was only significant in Citrulline group (P= 0.025). Results showed that APACHE II score were decreased in all three groups but there were no significant differences between groups after 10 days intervention (P=0.44).  Changes in APACHE II score had significant correlation with IL6 level (r=0.29, P=0.02). Conclusion: Citrulline supplementation could have modulatory effects on inflammatory biomarkers. https://jnsd.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jnsd/article/view/103 https://jnsd.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jnsd/article/download/103/147