Glutamine

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.

Special Precautions of Glutamine

• Although glutamine is generally considered safe, 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.

Given these safety concerns, it's important to seek medical advice prior to using glutamine supplements.

The benefits of Glutamine are

The healing powers of glutamine are vast and understated. This completely safe and natural amino acid supplement has been studied for the past 15 years for its unique and compelling healing properties. It is now clear to researchers that glutamine is key in healing the body from certain diseases and ailments.

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.

• 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.
• 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.
• Glutamine is also useful for 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.
• 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.
• Glutamine 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.