Blog · Research
L-Citrulline, Maca and Ginseng: What the Research on HorseFil's Ingredients Says
Quick answer
HorseFil names six ingredients: L-citrulline, L-carnitine, Panax ginseng, maca, rhodiola and grape seed extract. Research on each is mixed or limited. Ginseng may have a small effect on fatigue, and grape seed extract may modestly help blood pressure. No study has tested the finished HorseFil formula, and its amounts are not published.
Which six ingredients does HorseFil name?
HorseFil names six ingredients on its "Inside HorseFil" image. They are L-citrulline, L-carnitine, Panax ginseng extract, maca root extract, rhodiola extract and grape seed extract.
The amount of each is not published. That shapes how you should read every study below.
Two amino acids, four plant extracts
L-citrulline and L-carnitine are amino-acid compounds your body already uses. The other four are root, herb and seed extracts with long traditional use.
- L-citrulline
- L-carnitine
- Panax ginseng
- Maca root
- Rhodiola
- Grape seed
How strong is the evidence for each HorseFil ingredient?
The evidence ranges from modest to thin. No ingredient has strong proof for energy or performance on its own, and none has been tested as part of HorseFil.
| Ingredient | What studies looked at | What they found | Amounts studied (not HorseFil's) |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-Citrulline | Nitric oxide, exercise | Mixed; no clear aerobic benefit | about 3-9 g in exercise studies; up to 6 g/day showed no adverse effects short term (NIH ODS) |
| L-Carnitine | Fat use for energy, exercise | Mixed | 0.25-6 g/day, most studies 1-3 g/day (NIH ODS) |
| Panax ginseng extract | Fatigue, well-being | Small, inconsistent effect on fatigue | varies by extract; short-term use up to 6 months appears safe (NCCIH, 2025) |
| Maca root extract | Energy, mood, libido | Few human studies | varies; human trials are few and small (Jorquera-Aguilera et al., 2025) |
| Rhodiola extract | Fatigue, stress | Not enough reliable evidence | varies; possibly safe for up to 12 weeks (NCCIH, 2025) |
| Grape seed extract | Blood pressure, cholesterol | May modestly help | varies; generally well tolerated (NCCIH, 2025) |
Read the last column with care. Those are research amounts, not what a HorseFil gummy contains.
What does research say about L-citrulline and L-carnitine in HorseFil?
Both have been studied for exercise, and the results are mixed. Neither is a proven energy booster by itself.
L-citrulline
Your body turns L-citrulline into arginine, which it uses to make nitric oxide (NIH ODS). Nitric oxide is a signal that relaxes blood vessels. Exercise studies used about 3 to 9 grams.
A 2022 meta-analysis found no clear benefit for aerobic performance (Viribay et al., 2022). Up to 6 grams a day in the short term showed no adverse effects.
L-carnitine
L-carnitine helps carry fatty acids into mitochondria so they can be burned for energy (NIH ODS). Your body makes enough for most needs. Studies used 0.25 to 6 grams a day, mostly 1 to 3 grams.
Exercise results are mixed. At about 3 grams a day, it can cause nausea, diarrhea and a "fishy" body odor. Gut bacteria also turn it into a compound called TMAO.
What does research say about Panax ginseng and maca in HorseFil?
Panax ginseng has a small, uneven record on fatigue. Maca has very little human research.
Panax ginseng
Asian ginseng may have a small effect on general fatigue, but results are inconsistent (NCCIH, 2025). Short-term use up to six months appears safe. Insomnia is the most common side effect.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements found no effect on power or endurance in athletes.
Maca root
A 2010 review found too little good evidence on sexual function (Shin et al., 2010). A 2025 meta-analysis found performance benefits mostly in animal studies (Jorquera-Aguilera et al., 2025). Only four human studies were included.
What does research say about rhodiola and grape seed extract in HorseFil?
Rhodiola lacks reliable evidence for any use. Grape seed extract has a modest record for blood pressure and cholesterol.
Rhodiola
There is not enough reliable evidence to support rhodiola for any use (NCCIH, 2025). It is possibly safe for up to 12 weeks. Reported side effects include dizziness, headache, insomnia and dry mouth.
Grape seed extract
Grape seed extract may modestly help LDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure (NCCIH, 2025). It is generally well tolerated. Little is known about its use in pregnancy.
Pros
- Six ingredients are named, not hidden
- Each has published research you can read
- Grape seed and ginseng have some modest findings
Cons
- Amounts in HorseFil are not published
- Most findings are mixed or thin
- No study on the finished formula
Why don't study doses tell you HorseFil's dose?
Study doses describe what researchers gave people, not what is in a HorseFil gummy. HorseFil's amounts are not published, so you cannot match a study to a serving.
Follow the label, not the study
Take HorseFil the way the label directs. Serving size and gummies per day are not published here. The how to use HorseFil page walks through reading the directions.
More is not better
Taking extra gummies to reach a study amount is not safe. Do not exceed the label unless a clinician tells you to.
What can't ingredient research tell you about HorseFil?
Ingredient research cannot tell you how the finished HorseFil gummy works. It studies one substance at a time, usually in larger amounts, in small groups of people.
Blends are not the sum of their parts
Six ingredients together may act differently from each one alone. No published study has tested this blend.
Label claims are not study findings
The HorseFil label says it is made to support energy, vitality and performance. That is a structure claim with an FDA disclaimer, not a research result.
Your own response varies
Food, sleep and activity still matter. Two men can take the same product and notice very different things, or nothing at all.
How can you read supplement research about HorseFil's ingredients?
Ask four questions of any study you see quoted. They help you tell a strong finding from a weak one.
Was it done in people?
Animal and lab results often do not carry over. Maca is a clear example.
How many studies agree?
One small trial is a starting point. A review of many trials carries more weight.
What amount was used?
Compare it with your label. For HorseFil, the amounts are not published.
Who should be careful?
Check side effects and interactions. Talk to a doctor if you take medicine; the side effects page lists them.
For the bigger safety picture, read our post on hidden drugs in men's supplements. For daily routines, see energy habits for men. Each ingredient also has a plain summary on the HorseFil ingredients page, and label details are on the supplement facts page.
HorseFil ingredient research: common questions
Has HorseFil itself been studied?
No study on the finished HorseFil formula is published. The research on this page looks at single ingredients, usually at amounts HorseFil does not publish.
How much L-citrulline is in HorseFil?
The amount is not published. The "Inside HorseFil" image names the ingredient but gives no milligrams. Read the Supplement Facts panel on your bottle.
Is maca proven to help men's performance?
No. A 2025 meta-analysis found performance benefits mostly in animal studies, with only four human studies. A 2010 review found too little good evidence on sexual function.
Which HorseFil ingredient has the best evidence?
Evidence is modest across the board. Grape seed extract may modestly help LDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure, and Panax ginseng may have a small effect on general fatigue.
Can I take HorseFil with blood pressure medicine?
Talk to a doctor first. Rhodiola has a reported interaction with losartan, and grape seed extract has been studied for blood pressure.
References
- Jorquera-Aguilera C, et al. (2025). Effects of Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on Physical Performance in Animals and Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 17(1):107.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2025). Asian Ginseng: Usefulness and Safety.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2025). Grape Seed Extract: Usefulness and Safety.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2025). Rhodiola: Usefulness and Safety.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (accessed 2026). Carnitine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (accessed 2026). Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
- Shin BC, Lee MS, Yang EJ, Lim HS, Ernst E (2010). Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 10:44.
- Viribay A, Fernández-Landa J, Castañeda-Babarro A, et al. (2022). Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Different Aerobic Exercise Performance Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 14(17):3479.
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