L-glutamine is an amino acid that supports immune function and muscle repair and is the most prevalent amino acid in the bloodstream, with the highest concentrations being found in the skeletal muscles and gastrointestinal tract. As a free-form amino acid, glutamine is not connected to other amino acids in a chain. It’s in an already broken-down form that is ready to be used by the body. Glutamine is important for cell repair and replication, and the body’s rapidly dividing cells need high amounts of it, particularly in the intestinal tract and lymphatic system.
Stress factors from injury, poor nutrition, or intensive athletic training can adversely affect the body’s ability to absorb glutamine, which can lead to a less robust immune response. In addition, because glutamine is the primary fuel for the cells of the small intestine, low glutamine stores can lead to a leaky gut. Increasing glutamine consumption has been shown to reverse and repair the effects of such stressors.
Benefits that glutamine provides for the body:
Fuel for cells
The body’s cells are in a constant state of change, replicating and replacing about 330 billion cells each day. Replication requires a lot of energy, especially when healing after an injury. In response, glutamine stores are pulled from the bloodstream into the liver where they are converted to glucose for use as cellular energy. This can lead to a deficiency in the body’s glutamine stores.
Support for injury recovery
The amino acids stored in skeletal muscle, including glutamine, are depleted when you get injured. That is because an injury increases the body’s metabolic rate, which causes an increased need for certain nutrients. When you suffer from a deficiency or an increased need for glutamine, the body struggles to synthesize glutamine for the needed recovery. Proper nutrition and supplementation are key factors in repairing the body after strenuous activity or traumatic injury. Studies show that patients recovering from traumatic injury who took a glutamine supplement experienced faster healing times.
Immune function maintenance
Because a large part of the immune system resides in the GI tract, glutamine plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health. By nourishing the cells that line the GI tract, glutamine fortifies the barriers inside the intestines and the rest of the body, helping control what the body absorbs and what it keeps out. A lower level of glutamine in the bloodstream hinders the body’s ability to fight off infections; likewise, increasing the amount of glutamine in the diet offers immune support.
Products We Recommend
L-Glutamine by GAT Sports
GAT L-Glutamine is a pure amino acid and potent enough to be used by some of the world’s greatest physique & performance athletes. Each serving supplies 5.0g of high-quality L-Glutamine. Because it is unflavored, this product can easily be added to protein shakes, pre- or post-workout drinks, or your favorite beverage.
Glutamine Capsules by NutraKey
Glutamine functions as a major nitrogen transporter which is critical to maintaining a healthy nitrogen balance in the body which in turn can support an anabolic muscle state. It also is the primary source of energy for healthy cells in the digestive tract.
