What is Glutamine?
The most common of amino acids found in the body, Glutamine, or L-Glutamine makes up over 61 percent of the skeletal muscle tissue. It is a fuel the digestive tract and immune system craves, and 19 percent of a Glutamine molecule is made up of nitrogen, making it the primary conductor of nitrogen to the muscles. It is especially found in high concentrations in the brain, muscles, gut lining, lungs, heart, kidney, and liver where it has multiple and critical functions.
The conversion of glutamic acid from food is how humans synthesize Glutamine although some is present in certain food groups. A healthy diet provides 5-8 grams per day. Beans, meat, fish, poultry and dairy products are all good sources of Glutamine.
However, Glutamine deficiency is common in today's busy post-modernist lifestyle and is among the primary tests conducted by medical practioners who utilize blood tests to ascertain the amino acid levels present in patients with symptoms of chronic illness, dysfunction in cognitive functioning and mood swings, making it an increasingly popular substance not just in the athletic world but in medical practice. During periods of stress, trauma or simply intensive sports training, Glutamine depletion occurs which manifests itself in the form of decreased strength, stamina and recovery - taking anywhere up to six days to return to normal levels.
Basic L-Glutamine Functions in the Body
L Glutamine has key functions in body organs, among the most important being in aiding the cognitive performance of the brain where it is concentrated 10-15 times more than in the blood. In the brain it can be used as an alternative fuel when glucose depletion occurs. It helps the brain focus, concentrate, work at optimum memory recall, intellectual performance, alertness, attentiveness, mood balance and eliminates mental fog. Low-carb diet athletes and bodybuilders use Glutamine also for this reason because of the possibility of glucose depletion from such diets.
L-Glutamine is also associated with blood sugar control. When blood sugar is low, Glutamine works to suppress insulin to stop the further decline of the sugar levels. It also stimulates glycogen to be released to help increase the blood sugar to normal levels. And because it is a glycogenic amino acid it can convert to sugar - as it does in the brain - for energy production in a process called gluconeogenesis. This function has produced other interesting and varied use for Glutamine, especially in decreasing sugar and alcohol cravings.
Clinical studies with alcoholics showed that 2 to 3 grams given 3 times daily reduced the craving to drink, lowered anxiety, and improved sleep particularly when administered between meals. In lab studies rats decreased their voluntary alcohol consumption by 34 percent but when the Glutamine was stopped their alcohol consumption returned to baseline levels. This has led to healthcare providers recording success rates as high as 80 percent with alcoholics.
Glutamine is also heart food, with recent findings showing that it is an important source of fuel for the heart. In heart patients, glutamate infusions can be used during heart surgery to ensure a better outcome. It also serves as a substrate for the synthesis of a special type of beta-endorphin, glycyl-l-glutamine. This di-peptide is important for the regulation of blood pressure and prevention of cardio-respiratory depression. While that should not concern the average person the application of this for bodybuilders and athletes is that by increasing function of the heart, it can help during exercise of cardiovascular nature by increasing endurance and sustaining performance.
Glutamine and Digestive Tract Health
This wonder protein base also plays a leading role in the well being of the digestive tract. Due to the frequency and volume that most athletes need to consume food they impose stress on the digestive system where glutamine can help ensure everything is in order. A great many medical professionals believe that most chronic diseases originate from the gut. The problem here originates for any number of reasons causing the lining of the gut to become weak and leaky. This breach in the gut functioning creates an opportunity for pathogens, food particles, bacteria, fungi, and parasites into circulation where they can cause problems such as auto-immune diseases, food allergies, and any number of other chronic ailments. An impaired gut can cause digestive and bowel problems, yeast infections, ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.
Quite simply people who use Glutamine are insuring their gut lining health. When it was first discovered, Glutamine was labeled the "intestinal permeability factor" because it is the principal source of energy for the cells of the gut lining. Most glutamine ingested is metabolized by the intestines where it maintains the structural integrity of the intestinal lining, supporting its quick turnover. It is most helpful for people who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or antibiotics because both can damage the gut lining and set up gastro-intestinal disturbances or leaky gut syndrome. Glutamine eliminates that problem and soothes the gut.
L-Glutamine and the Immune System
L Glutamine remains the primary source of energy for the various cells of the immune system. Exercise, viral and bacterial infections, and stress in general leads to Glutamine depletion that starves the immune cells. AIDS or cancer patients use up to 40 grams a day to sustain their immune systems. Additionally Glutamine is a substrate for glutathione, an amino acid which acts as a master antioxidant and helps enhance the immune function. In large doses it stimulates the immune response even under heavy stress. Generally though, dosages of 2-5 grams per day should be sufficient for normal healthy people to boost immune system function. Athletes however, should look to increase their dosage on an as needed basis if they tend to succumb to infections after heavy exercise.
It also plays an important part in cancer patients where it maintains close to normal immune system functioning, fighting the disease's ability to affect the body. Lab findings show that cancer ridden rats could maintain normal immune function without increasing the size and virility of their tumors when put on Glutamine-rich diets. Other studies also showed glutamine enhanced the selectivity of anti-tumor drugs by protecting normal cells from chemotherapy while making the tumor cells more sensitive to the aggressive treatment medications. It enhances its importance in the way that during abdominal radiation it protected the intestinal mucosa from injury thereby accelerating bowel healing times.
Glutamine Side Effects
While there are no recognized side-effects from ingesting levels of Glutamine, perhaps the only denomination of affected people who need to exercise caution are diabetics. In diabetics (both type 1 and type 2) there is much volatility in Glutamine metabolism. Higher levels of Glutamine are broken down by their liver and kidneys for the production of glucose.
A caution is required here in that diabetics should discuss the intake of Glutamine supplements with their doctors before doing so. It is hoped that at some stage research data might be available on Glutamine and its correlation and effects on diabetes.
Glutamine's importance however, cannot be understated, and apart from its impressive portfolio of beneficial function, its future potential - while not a panacea for all ailments - leaves much room for scientific exploration of other benefits and applications.
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Disclaimer
All material on the Glutamine-Effects.com website is for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical advice.
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