Description
It is hard for the body to keep up with glutamine needs when under stress. Studies have shown positive benefits for athletes undergoing heavy training from glutamine supplementation.* It is also protective during times of critical illness or injury, such as for burn patients.*
Known as a multi-tasking amino acid, glutamine represents approximately 40 to 60 percent of the total pool of protein in your body. Glutamine plays a critical role in wound repair and may help prevent infections in people who are under physical stress. Glutamine may support immunity, muscle, and tissue repair after an injury, during severe illness, or as an athlete battling overtraining.
Glutamine has two primary targets in the human body:
Supporting gut integrity
Supporting immune function
Glutamine & Gut Function
Glutamine promotes healthy tissue repair in the gut and throughout the body. It helps reduce inflammation in the GI tract, supporting the protective mucosal layer in the gut. Glutamine shields cells against apoptosis (programmed cell death) and enhances immune barrier function of the GI tract.
The gastrointestinal lining has unique functions and nutritional needs. The gut lining needs to have proper permeability and integrity so it can absorb nutrients and prevent allergens and microbes from gaining access to the bloodstream. Glutamine serves as a fuel source for cells in the gut and helps repair damage to the integrity of the gut intestinal lining.
Glutamine & Immune Function
A large portion of your immune system is centralized in the gut where immune factors are produced. By promoting regeneration of healthy gut cells, glutamine supports a robust immune system that can fight of illness and disease. Glutamine is also a raw material for glutathione, the “master antioxidant” in the human body that helps your body handle inflammation.*
Clinical research shows the following benefits of Glutamine:
Eases Muscle Soreness: Glutamine may reduce DOMS muscle soreness after muscle-damaging exercise.*
Maintains Muscle Tissue: Glutamine supports muscle recovery from intense metabolically taxing training.*
Supports Cognition: Glutamine may support brain function by increasing production of neurotransmitters that regulate mood, energy levels, and memory.*
Who Is At Risk of Low Glutamine Levels?
If the body’s need for glutamine is greater than its ability to produce it, you may break down muscle to release more of this amino acid. Additionally, the function of the immune system can be compromised when insufficient amounts of glutamine are available.
Individuals under extreme stress, either due to illness, injury, or intense physical training loads may deplete glutamine levels.* A conditionally essential amino acid that needs to be gotten from food during times of stress, glutamine is available in the largest quantities in animal products.
