Glutamine

Other Names: Acide Glutamique, Acide Glutamique HCl, Acide L-(+)-2-Aminoglutaramique, Acide L-Glutamique, Acide L-Glutamique HCl, Alanyl-L-Glutamine Dipeptide, Éthyle Ester de Glutamine, Éthyle Ester de Glutamine HCl, GLN, Glutamate, Glutamic Acid, Glutamic Acid HCl, Glutamina, Glutaminate, Glutamine Ethyl Ester, Glutamine Ethyl Ester HCl, Glutamine Methyl Ester, Glutamine Peptides, Levoglutamide, Levoglutamine, L-(+)-2-Aminoglutaramic Acid, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Glutamic Acid HCl, L-Glutamic Acid Hydrochloride, L-Glutamic Acid 5-Amide, L-Glutamine, N-Acetyl-L-Glutamine, Peptides de Glutamine, Q, (S)-2,5-Diamino-5-oxopentanoic Acid. Glutamine is an amino acid found in high levels throughout the body (primarily in skeletal muscle). Glutamine is also available in a number of foods and in dietary supplement form. Glutamine supplements are often used to increase muscle mass, as well as treat certain health conditions.Glutamine has many functions in the body, including protein synthesis. Glutamine is also essential to proper function of the immune system. In addition, glutamine appears to play a role in brain function and digestion. The brain consumes 20 percent or more of your daily glucose intake, but when glucose is scarce, its emergency fuel, glutamine, keeps your marbles together.

Symptoms of Glutamine Deficiency

• More frequent infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of muscle mass
• Decreased nutrient absorption
• Greater digestive distress
• Lack of energy and increased fatigue

Special Precautions of Glutamine

• The amino acid can intensify damage caused by any disease that allows ammonia to accumulate in excessive amounts in the blood. If you have liver disease, bipolar disorder or seizures or are pregnant or breastfeeding. consult your doctor before taking l-glutamine.
• Adults should avoid using more than 40 grams of glutamine daily. Children, age 3 to 18, should not be given doses that are larger than 0.65 grams per kg of weight per day. Not enough is known about the safety of higher doses in children.
• There's some concern that using glutamine supplements in combination with certain medications (including chemotherapy drugs and anti-seizure medications) may produce harmful effects.
• Additionally, taking glutamine may be harmful to people with certain health conditions, such as severe liver disease, mania, and epilepsy.
• Seizures: There is some concern that glutamine might increase the likelihood of seizures in some people. Avoid use.
• Severe liver disease with difficulty thinking or confusion (hepatic encephalopathy): Glutamine could make this condition worse. Don’t use it.
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG) sensitivity (also known as "Chinese restaurant syndrome"): If you are sensitive to MSG, you might also be sensitive to glutamine, because the body converts glutamine to glutamate.
• Lactulose interacts with GLUTAMINE
• Medications for cancer (Chemotherapy) interacts with GLUTAMINE
• Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with GLUTAMINE

The benefits of Glutamine are

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood stream, and while the body is able to produce the amino acid, it becomes unable to produce sufficient amounts of it during times of stress. This makes it a conditionally essential amino acid. Conditionally essential amino acids must be obtained from dietary sources or supplements when the body is unable to produce enough of them. Times of stress include anytime the body has undergone trauma or contracted illness or disease that it must heal from.

• Soreness and swelling inside the mouth, caused by chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Glutamine doesn’t seem to reduce pain and swelling for all chemotherapy patients, and it’s not clear which patients are likely to benefit. Some researchers suspect that patients who don’t have enough glutamine to start with are most likely to be helped. Some studies are being planned to test this idea.
• Improving well-being in people with traumatic injuries, when included in a formula used for nutrition. There is some evidence that glutamine keeps bacteria from moving out of the intestine and infecting other parts of the body after major injuries.
• Treating weight loss and intestinal problems in people with HIV disease (AIDS). Taking glutamine by mouth seems to help HIV/AIDS patients absorb food better and gain weight. Doses of 40 grams per day seem to produce the best effect.
• Healing stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal diseases : It is estimated that 6 percent of people carry the ulcer causing bacteria their stomach, H. pylori. The antibiotics typically used to treat H. pylori can cause side effects and create a resistance in the bacteria. Research now shows that glutamine supplementation can safely and effectively protect against and repair the damage caused by H. pylori. Glutamine is the single most prescribed ulcer medication in Asia.
• A urinary problem called cystinuria.
• An intestinal condition called Crohn’s disease.
• Improving exercise performance.
• Glutamine plays an important role in strengthening the lining if the gut. With the many chemicals the human stomach is exposed to these days, there is a good chance your gut may require some maintenance and repair. Gut health is necessary and essential for overall health and well being.
• Even serious gastrointestinal and digestive diseases such as Crohn's, IBS and Colitis can see substantial improvement with glutamine supplementation. Glutamine supplies fuel for fast multiplying cells, such as those in the gastrointestinal systems. Many of the drugs used to treat these diseases only mask the symptoms, while causing serious side effects. On the other hand, there are studies in which patients of these diseases have seen nearly complete recovery with glutamine supplementation alone.
• Increase Nutrient Absorption
• treating diarrhea, as it decreases loss of electrolytes and water from the small intestines. Glutamine's role in the health and healing of the gut and intestines is unparalleled.
• Fighting Infections : Glutamine for post surgery, wounds, burns and illness : Hospital acquired infections greatly increase the mortality rates of post surgery patients and are responsible for up to $33 billion in preventable health care costs. A 2010 meta-analysis of 14 studies (published in "Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition") where intravenous glutamine was administered in critically ill surgical patients, showed that glutamine significantly reduced hospital duration of stay and infectious complications compared to control groups.Glutamine is known for its ability to enhance immune function and to decrease healing time in burn patients. Glutamine is the major amino acid lost during any tissue injury, implying that it has a significant role in the healing and recovery process.
• for muscle recovery : Athletes who are interested in preserving muscle tissue and decreasing recovery time from training sessions can benefit from glutamine. Two thirds of the glutamine stores in the body reside within the muscle tissue. During times of stress and intense physical exertion the body releases high levels of the muscle wasting hormone cortisol, which can decrease glutamine stores. Supplementing glutamine can help keep the body in an anabolic state, making it easier to build and maintain muscle mass.
• Obesity : L-Glutamine may alter how calories are transferred to inhibit fat storage. So more fat is used for energy instead of accumulating to puff you up.
• Anti-Aging : activates Human Growth hormone (HGH).

Food Sources

• Meat, Fish and Poultry : Beef, fish and chicken all contain glutamine. Meat, fish and poultry are the top sources for consuming glutamine without taking supplements.
• Eggs also have glutamine. Body builders consume eggs before a workout to maintain body strength after a grueling gym session.
• Beans : Protein-rich beans are an excellent source of glutamine, especially for vegetarians.
• Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt offer immunity-fortifying glutamine.
• Other Foods : Glutamine can also be found in beets, cabbage, spinach, parsley and wheat.