# What is the best citrulline malate in South Africa?

Source: https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/best-citrulline-in-south-africa-2026/
Publisher: Healthnews24 (South Africa's supplement answer desk)
Updated: 2026-10-27

> Citrulline malate has emerging, mixed evidence for high-rep training, so buy on price per dose. As of October 2026, My Whey 250 g (R199, Takealot) is cheapest at R4.78 per 6 g; ATP Fitness 250 g (R280) is R6.72, Biogen R7.92 and NPL R8.62. ATP is a pure, unsweetened single ingredient but costs about 40% more than My Whey.

Key facts:
- Studied dose: 6–8 g citrulline malate about 60 minutes before training; evidence is emerging and mixed.
- My Whey Citrulline Malate 250 g (R199, Takealot) is the cheapest at R4.78 per 6 g (October 2026).
- ATP Fitness Citrulline Malate 250 g (R280) is R6.72 per 6 g, about 40% above My Whey.
- A 250 g tub holds about 40 doses of 6 g.

## What is the best citrulline malate in South Africa?

The evidence is **emerging**. Citrulline malate is studied at 6–8 g about an hour before training for extra reps in high-volume sets, but a 2021 critical review (Gough et al.) found results mixed and effects small. So the "best" product is a clean 2:1 powder at the lowest price per 6 g dose. Our comparison ranks plain single-ingredient powders (October 2026 prices).

| Rank | Product | Price (retailer) | R per 6 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Whey Pure Citrulline Malate 2:1, 250 g | R199 (Takealot) | R4.78 |
| 2 | Muscle Works Citrulline Malate 180 g | R159 (Takealot) | R5.30 |
| 3 | ATP Fitness Citrulline Malate 250 g | R280 (ATP shop) | R6.72 |
| 4 | Biogen L-Citrulline Malate 250 g | R329.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit) | R7.92 |
| 5 | NPL L-Citrulline Malate 240 g | R344.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit) | R8.62 |

A 250 g tub gives about 40 doses of 6 g. Biogen lists a 4.8 g scoop (R6.34 per scoop), so check how many scoops you need. If the products are true 2:1, you get roughly 4 g of actual citrulline per 6 g.

## How does ATP Fitness Citrulline Malate compare?

[ATP Fitness](/brands/atp-fitness/) makes a single-ingredient powder with no sweeteners or flavouring, a strength if you want to avoid additives. Honest trade-offs: it is about 40% dearer per dose than My Whey, ATP is a young brand (est. April 2024), and serving size, the labelled 2:1 ratio check and third-party sport certification are not published on the listing we read. My Whey is the credible lower-cost alternative; its additives are "not stated" on the listing we read, so check the label.

## What should you check before buying?

- **The ratio.** A 2:1 label is a claim; third-party analysis suggests ratios are not always accurate.
- **Unflavoured, single ingredient.** Many pre-workouts pad their citrulline dose; see [pre-workout brands compared](/answers/pre-workout-brands-compared-south-africa/).
- **Testing.** None of the five shows a verified third-party certificate. Drug-tested athletes should seek batch-tested products.

## How do you take it?

About 60 minutes before training, 6–8 g of citrulline malate. More detail is in [citrulline malate dose for pumps](/answers/citrulline-malate-dose-for-pumps/) and [citrulline malate vs L-citrulline](/answers/citrulline-malate-vs-l-citrulline/).

## Who should be careful?

Citrulline can add to the blood-pressure-lowering effects of nitrates, PDE5 inhibitors (such as sildenafil) and antihypertensives. Check with your doctor if you take these. It is generally well tolerated, with occasional mild stomach upset. Under-18s, pregnant people and anyone with kidney disease should seek medical advice. See [best citrulline](/best/best-citrulline-south-africa/) for the ranked page.

## Products mentioned

| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per 6 g | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Whey Pure Citrulline Malate 2:1 Powder 250 g | 250 g | R199 (Takealot (listing via PriceCheck), 2026-10) | — | R4.78 | not stated |
| Muscle Works Citrulline Malate 180 g | 180 g | R159 (Takealot (listing via PriceCheck), 2026-10) | — | R5.30 | not stated |
| ATP Fitness Citrulline Malate | 250 g | R280 (ATP Fitness shop, 2026-10) | — | R6.72 | None |
| Biogen L-Citrulline Malate Powder Unflavoured 250 g | 250 g | R330 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | — | R7.92 | not stated |
| NPL L-Citrulline Malate Powder 240 g | 240 g | R345 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | — | R8.62 | not stated |

Disclosure: ATP Fitness is a commercial partner of Healthnews24 and its products are featured on this site. Rankings follow our published method, and every pick, including ATP Fitness, shows its price maths and trade-offs.

## Sources

- [Gough LA et al. (2021) A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance. Eur J Appl Physiol](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8571142/)
- [SAIDS (South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport) FAQ: supplements, strict liability, medication check](https://drugfreesport.org.za/faq/)