View Product Images L-Glutamine 750

Price: $36.99 Availability: in stock Prod. Code: 120caps

Take 1 to 6 capsules per day between meals or after a workout, or as directed by yourqualified health consultant.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and is involved in many metabolic processes. Skeletal muscles are the primary sites of glutamine concentration. Glutamine protects muscle tissue and supports immune function during periods of immune and muscular stress. Glutamine supplementation supports protein synthesis as well as the rate of glycogen production (by serving as a carbon donor). Glutamine supports integrity of intestinal mucosal cells and nucleotide synthesis by lymphocytes.

Keep out of reach of children.

Other Ingredients:Rice powder, magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. Capsule consists of gelatin.

Jarrow Formulas® L-Glutamine is produced bymicrobiological fermentation and is USP/FCC grade made in Japan.
Store in a cool, dry place. Do NOT refrigerate.

A Special Nutrient

Researchers have been highlighting the potential of glutamine since the 1930s when biochemist Sir Hans Krebs (discoverer of the Krebs Cycle) demonstrated the versatile functions of glutamine. But it was only recently that the amino acid L-Glutamine became recognized as a special nutrient.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in the body. Glutamine is more than 50% of the free amino acid content in muscles. On average, glutamine is over 100 times more concentrated than leucine, a branched-chain amino also recognized for its effects on protecting muscle mass.

Glutamine is classified as a “conditionally essential” amino acid. This means that, under normal circumstances, the body can synthesize adequate quantities, but in times of stress the body cannot make as much glutamine as it requires.

Glutamine and Muscle growth

After the third decade, humans start to experience a rapid drop in circulating growth hormone levels. Consequently, body composition patterns begin to tend toward muscle loss. Glutamine may be invaluable in this situation because it is capable of modulating protein synthesis.

Glutamine and Catabolism: Anticatabolic? Anabolic? Or both!

A clinical trial demonstrated that glutamine affects muscular protein synthesis and circulating growth hormone levels. In this study, only two grams of oral glutamine were enough to cause significant release of growth hormone in young adult men; circulating growth hormone increased by over 400 per cent. Two grams is a surprisingly small amount to cause a rise in growth hormone.

In another study, glutamine’s anabolic and anticatabolic effects were shown: glutamine inhibited protein breakdown while increasing protein synthesis.

Also, researchers have shown in animal studies that exercise causes marked decrease of glutamine circulating in the blood.  During intense exercise, the muscles release glutamine into the bloodstream to compensate for the loss of this vital nutrient. Muscles release the glutamine to ensure optimal function of the immune system, gut function and proper production of glycogen after exercise.

Glutamine actually increases the glycogen synthesized in the liver and muscle, leading to larger, fuller muscles. Athletes supplementing with glutamine can look forward to enhanced rates of muscle growth and surprisingly quick recuperation following intensive workouts. All of these studies show that glutamine is not only anticatabolic, but may also be anabolic.

Glutamine and the Immune System

The collective immune cells lining the gut are known as GALT (Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue). Glutamine is involved in maintaining the efficiency of this gut immune system. Researchers have demonstrated that the addition of glutamine to the GALT immune cells enhances the structure and function.

The intestinal enterocytes (cells that line the intestines) are also strongly affected by glutamine. Enterocytes are the intestinal cells responsible for absorption of nutrients and they collectively form a barrier that resists toxic compounds. The cells of the enterocytes have a high turnover. Because of its supportive effects on GALT and the intestinal enterocytes, individuals supplementing glutamine can look forward to superior gut function, improved absorption of foods and enhanced immune response and prevention of leaky gut syndrome.

In another study, 84 critically ill patients in an intensive care unit received glutamine. Survival at six months was significantly greater, and the cost of hospital stay was greatly reduced.

Glutamine Supplementation

Effective supplementation is best done with free-form glutamine, which is several times stronger than glutamine peptides. Glutamine is best taken on an empty stomach or with carbohydrates so there is no competitive inhibition of absorption by other amino acids.

Glutamine supplementation is most valuable following a workout, when the cells are most nutrient-sensitive. Also, post-workout supplementation enhances production of glycogen and promotes the synthesis of new muscular proteins. The quantity needed for effective results depends on body weight, but most people begin to receive benefit by consuming two to four grams per serving. Glutamine is one of the most important nutrients to consume after a workout, along with other important nutrients such as simple carbohydrates, creatine and branched-chain amino acids.

Other functions of Glutamine

•Aids in wound healing.

•Maintains and supports glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), an important antioxidant.

•Controls fluid loss from the intestines, which helps control diarrhea.

•An effective remedy for stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Chemistry

Glutamine has two nitrogen atoms. The extra nitrogen imparts special properties. Glutamine acts as a nitrogen shuttle, a substance that picks up and drops off nitrogen around the body, including passing nitrogen to the DNA, mopping up ammonia, etc.

References

i. Griffiths RD, Jones C, Palmer TE. (1997).  “Six-month outcome of clinically ill patients given glutamine- supplemented parenteral nutrition”.  Nutrition; 13:295-302

ii. Okabe S, Takeuchi K, Honda K, Takagi K. (1976).  “Effects of acetyl salicylic acid, plus glutamine on healing of chronic gastric ulcers in rats.” Digestion; 14: 85-88

iii. Rennie MJ, MacLennan PA, Hundal HS, Weryk B, Smith K, Taylor PM, Egan C, Watt PW.(1989). “Skeletal muscle glutamine, intramuscular glutamine concentration, and muscle protein turnover.” Metabolism; 38(8 Suppl 1):47-51

iv. Souba WW, Smith RJ, Wilmore DW.(1985). “Glutamine metabolism by the intestinal tract.” J PEN; 9:608-617. 

v. Kabetic T, et al. (1991). “Supplementation of human immunodeficiency virus experimentation in chronically infected monocytes cells by glutamine, glutamine ester and N-acetylcypitine”. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci.; 88:986-990.

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