Severe Chronic Respiratory Failure and Citrulline

Because of its very high bioavailability and its specific and direct action on protein synthesis, the investigators hypothesize that citrulline supplementation would be an innovative nutritional strategy to improve the peripheral muscle mass and strength in COPD patients with severe chronic respiratory failure. This supplementation would be more effective if the pathology is severe and the chronic systemic inflammation important. The benefits of this supplementation could help the most severe patients break out of the cycle of inactivity and thus optimize their quality of life. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of 45-day nutritional supplementation with Citrulline (10 g / day) on the body composition (lean body mass) in malnourished COPD patients with severe chronic respiratory failure.