What is Glutamine?
Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid (protein building block) utilised by the digestive system in muscle tissue maintenance and by the immune system, and acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter.
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Sixty percent of the intramuscular pool of free amino acids consists of glutamine. It also plays an important part in nitrogen balance throughout the body. Those who suffer from Huntington’s disease have an excess of glutamine in the body. It is the most abundant amino acid in the body.
How does it work?
Glutamine plays a key role in the synthesis of protein, and becomes an energy source after deamination, and increases nitrogen retention. It is then used in the metabolism of nucleic acid. The theory is that these processes help to speed up the recovery of muscle tissue after a long workout, or period of physical stress.
Why you might consider using glutamine
Glutamine might help in preventing the loss of muscle mass, and may effect muscle recovery times after physical activity. A diet consisting of a healthy amount of glutamine does effect the immune system positively during times of stress.
What it can do
With an increase in levels of glutamine, muscle catabolism is slowed down during periods of intense physical activity or stress
Glutamine can possibly aid in building a damaged or lowered immune system
What it cannot do
Glutamine has no effect on exercise performance or body composition during periods of physical exercise
Glutamine does not build muscle mass
Harmful effects
A low dosage of glutamine supplementation (7 g - 21 g glutamine for a person weighing 70 kg) shows no negative side effects. Even when taken in higher dosages (22 g - 42 g glutamine per day), it failed to show any unwanted side effects However, recent studies have shown that:
An increase of glutamine in the diet leads to an increase in production of the potential excitotoxin, glutamate
High levels of glutamate in the brain have been shown in post seizure brain analysis, and in paediatric brain injuries
Recent studies have revealed that glutamine plays a part in liver disease-associated brain injury
Accumulation of glutamine levels have been found in cases of Alzheimer’s disease
High levels of the enzyme glutaminase (that converts glutamine into glutamate) have been found in people who suffer from multiple sclerosis
Glutamine produces extreme hypoglycaemia in pregnant woman, which may lead to fatal hypoglycaemia in infants.
Glutamine should not be used by individuals who may have a history of the following:
Autism
Multiple sclerosis
ADHD
Pregnancy
Malignancy
Recent vaccinations
Stroke
Neuro-degenerative disease
Hypoglycaemia
Who may benefit?
Glutamine is most effective if used to repair gastrointestinal injury. Individuals with a weak immune system may benefit from a regular intake of glutamine.
Who should use it?
Those with lowered immune systems may benefit most from glutamine intake, but there is insufficient scientific evidence to support this claim.
Legal Status
Legal.
Verdict
As of yet, there is no concrete evidence that the the supplementation of glutamine enhances exercise or builds muscle. Though some studies may show a positive effect on the immune system, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support this.
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