- What Is It?
- What is glutamine?
- Foods Sources
- Which foods should you eat to get glutamine?
- Uses
- What is glutamine used for?
- Safe Amount
- What amount of glutamine supplement intake is considered safe?
- 7 Health Benefits
- 7 benefits of glutamine
- 4 Side Effects
- 4 potential side effects of glutamine
- Comments
- **COMMENTSTAGLIST**
- More
- **OTHERTAGLIST**
The body naturally makes glutamine in the muscles, which is transferred by the blood into different organ systems.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in cells and tissues and are the second most abundant compound found in mammals after water.
The availability of amino acids is of fundamental importance for cell survival, maintenance, and proliferation.
Among the 20 amino acids, glutamine is the most abundant and versatile amino acid responsible for intermediary metabolism and immune function.
What is glutamine?
Glutamine is a nonessential amino acid that serves as a building block for proteins.
It is considered a conditionally essential amino acid, which means it must be obtained from the diet under certain circumstances, such as injury or illness.
It is synthesized from glutamic acid and ammonia and is involved in many metabolic processes.
The two different forms of glutamine include L-glutamine (found in foods and man-made supplements) and D-glutamine (relatively unimportant in humans).
Glutamine supports several functions of the body, including:
- Makingproteinsfor muscle tissues
- Fueling cells that protect the stomach and the intestines (enterocytes)
- Supportingimmune systemcells
- Helping the liverdetoxify foreign substances
Manmade versionsor glutamine supplements are available in the form of:
- Capsule
- Tablet
- Powder for solution
- Packet
- Powder for suspension
Which foods should you eat to get glutamine?
The body naturally makes glutamine in the muscles, which is transferred by thebloodinto different organ systems.
Because animal products, such as meat, eggs, and beef, are high in protein, they are the simplest ways to get high amounts of glutamine as well.
However, some plant-based foods have an adequate amount of glutamine, such as wheat,peanuts,corn, tofu, andmilk.
The deficiency of glutamine is rare and is often caused by genetic disorders rather than inadequate intake.
What is glutamine used for?
Endari (glutamine) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a prescription drug for sickle cell disease.
Other conditions wherein glutamine is possibly effective include:
- Heals burns
- Reduces complications of trauma or critical illness
- Patients with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome absorb food better, which prevents unwanted weight loss
- Faster recovery after surgery
- Glutamine is used in combination withhuman growth hormone(GH) to treat short bowel syndrome
What amount of glutamine supplement intake is considered safe?
The amount, dosage, and frequency of glutamine supplements depend on the reason for prescription and the general condition of the patient.
According to an estimate, people consume about three to six grams of glutamine daily in the diet.
Some clinical studies have speculated that doses of 5 to 45 grams per day for up to six weeks are considered safe with no negative side effects.
7 benefits of glutamine
Research suggests that glutamine supplements may offer some health benefits, but studies are underway to confirm the potential of glutamine to prevent or treat certain conditions.
- Improves recovery times and reduces complications
- It may help people with gut conditions such as Crohn’s disease,celiac disease, andgut inflammation.
- Boosts immunity
- It acts directly on gut-associated lymphoid tissue and stimulates overall immune function.
- Glutamine supplements might help the gut, immune system, and other processes function properly, especially in times of stress, such as trauma, injury, or illness.
- It is the main fuel source for lymphocytes, and white blood cells that fight infection and diseases.
- Promotes intestinal health
- The amino acid helps maintain the intestinal lining, ensuring that the body absorbs the nutrients it needs.
- It supports overall good healthand protects against serious problems, such as leaky gut syndrome.
- It plays a major role to protect the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the large intestine.
- Helps recover muscle
- Glutamine supplements may act as fitness supplementthat promotes muscle gain and fat burn.
- It may help reducefatigueand improveexercise recovery.
- In addition, it may reducemuscle damageand aid in exercise performances.
- May help ease the effects of cancer treatments, such as muscle wasting,oral inflammation,nausea, vomiting, anddiarrhea.
- Glutamine supplements are linked with shorter hospital stays and lower mortality rates for critically ill patients.
- Reduces the acute complications of sickle cell diseasein adults and children.
4 potential side effects of glutamine
- Long-term impact
- Excessive intake over time may change the way the body distributes and uses amino acids, which may raise the risk of health problems.
- Hazardous side effects
- Side effects are generally mild and might include bloating, nausea, dizziness,heartburn, changes in bowel movements, andstomach pain.
- In some rare cases, high quantities of glutamine can cause side effects that may require immediate medical attention, includingblood in the urine, changes in the skin color, lower back pain,fast heartbeat, dizziness, or rash.
- May worsen liver and kidney diseases
- People with liver and kidney conditions need to be extra cautious before taking a glutamine supplement.
- Pregnancy
- There is not enough evidence or conclusive studies to confirm the safety of glutamine in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Do not use glutamineuntil advised by a medical health professional.
Health News
- Heart Trouble Harms Men's Brains Far Sooner Than Women's
- Holiday Travel With a Loved One With Dementia: An Expert Offers Tips
- Irregular Sleep Might Raise Odds for Heart Attack, Stroke
- People With HIV Can Now Receive Livers, Kidneys From HIV-Positive Donors
- Nerve Stimulation Device Might Ease Long COVID Symptoms
- More Health News »
References
Image Source: iStock image
WebMD. Health Benefits of Glutamine. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-glutamine#1
Cruzat V, Macedo Rogero M, Noel Keane K, Curi R, Newsholme P. Glutamine: Metabolism and Immune Function, Supplementation and Clinical Translation. Nutrients. 2018 Oct 23;10(11):1564. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266414/
Top Glutamine: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects Related Articles
- 10 Foods High in Essential Amino AcidsWhat are essential amino acids? Learn the best foods for essential amino acids.
- amino acids/electrolytes/glycerin - injection, Procalamine
- amino acids-injection, Aminosyn, Freamine, Travasol
- What Are the Benefits and Risks of Taking Amino Acid Supplements?Learn whether taking amino acids is of a greater benefit or risk to your overall health. Amino acids are building blocks of protein. The amino acids come together to form proteins.
- Diet and Nutrition: Cheap and Healthy Sources of ProteinYou don't have to spend a bundle to stock up on protein-rich foods. Learn more about inexpensive and healthy ways to get your protein.
- Diet and Nutrition: Protein Sources That Aren’t MeatPack your pantry with these high-protein beans, seeds, nuts, and grains.
- Endari (L-glutamine oral powder)Endari (L-glutamine oral powder) is used to reduce acute complications of sickle cell disease. Side effects of Endari can include enlarged spleen, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, burning sensation, andhot flash.
- glutamineGlutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and is prescribed as nutritional support in the treatment of sickle cell disease and short bowel syndrome. Common side effects of glutamine (Endari) include constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, cough, pain in extremities, chest pain, and back pain. Common side effects of glutamine (NutreStore) include gas (flatulence), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, frequent urge to pass stools without being able to (tenesmus), hemorrhoids, dry mouth, constipation, pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis), and others.
- Healthy Eating: Veggies That Pack in the ProteinWhen you think protein, you probably think meat, eggs, and maybe dairy. But veggies have plenty of protein, too. Find out more from WebMD about which ones are the best sources.
- NephrAmine (essential amino acid)5.4% NephrAmine (essential amino acid) Injection is amino acids used in conjunction with other measures, to provide nutritional support for uremic patients, particularly when oral nutrition is infeasible or impractical.
- Which Plant-Based Foods Have the Highest Protein?Learn more about plant protein sources for following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Plus, learn why plant-based protein is often better for you than animal protein.
- Prosol (amino acids)Prosol (amino acids) is indicated as a source of amino acids for patients requiring parenteral nutrition (PN) when oral or enteral nutrition is not possible, insufficient, or contraindicated. Prosol may be used to treat negative nitrogen balance in patients.
- Protein QuizProtein is a staple in our diets, but what happens if we get too much? Take this quiz to find out the truth about protein and what's behind the high-protein diet craze!
- What Are the 21 Amino Acids?Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins and help our bodies to grow, repair body tissue, maintain immunity and produce hormones that maintain body functions. Out of the 21 amino acids, only 9 are categorized as essential.
- What Are the Nine Essential Amino Acids?What are amino acids? Learn which amino acids are essential to the human body and how you can make sure you're getting enough.
- What Do Amino Acids Do?Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and play an important role in body functions. They are needed for vital processes like the cell building and synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). They may also be taken as supplements.
- What Happens When You Eat Too Much Protein?Our body uses protein to build the muscles and organs, deliver oxygen to the cells, and keep the immune system working. Most people should get at least 10-15% of their daily calories from protein.
