What You Should Know About Glutamine As Muscle Supplements

Despite being the most abundant amino acid in the body, many people are still taking more glutamine from other sources with the intent of preventing disease, increasing muscle size and strength and enhancing endurance and energy. Find out the different advantages of glutamine supplementation and achieve new physical feats without having to worry about adverse effects.

Glutamine is an amino acid naturally found in the proteins of all living organisms. It is categorized as a semi-essential or conditionally essential amino acid since the body is able to synthesize all the glutamine it needs. It is one of the 20 amino acids genetically coded in the standard. It has a side chain which is an amine created by replacing glutamic acid's side-chain hydroxyl with an amine functional group. It is then considered as the amide of glutamic acid with codons CAA and CAG.

There are also times when the body cannot synthesize and produce adequate amounts of glutamine and requires the use of supplementation. Many medical experts consider glutamine as a very important amino acid especially in metabolic stress conditions and events such as cancer, trauma and infection.

There are plenty of functions by glutamine which greatly help the body cope with physical stress and disease. On the average, people take anywhere from 5 to 10 grams of glutamine a day. Although the body naturally produces the amino acid it can also be found in most meats, fruits and vegetables like fish, eggs, milk, beans and spinach which individuals eat on a regular basis.

There are several biochemical functions of glutamine such as being a substrate for DNA synthesis. It also plays a major role in protein synthesis serving as a fuel source for the brain. It is also an inhibitor of cortisol-induced protein catabolism, serving as a primary fuel source for enterocytes. These are cells that line the internal small intestine and it is also a precursor for fast-dividing immune cells, regulating acid-base balance in the kidneys through the production of ammonium and fighting the spread of microorganisms and other harmful agents.

Glutamine is also called a nutraceutical since it features both nutritional and medical benefits. The amino acid aids in gastrointestinal function by aiding enterocytes that line and protect the small intestine. Some of the added gastrointestinal benefits that glutamine can provide would be maintaining gut barrier function, supporting cell proliferation and differentiation in the intestines. It also reduces septic morbidity as well as alleviating the symptoms of IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. Glutamine has a higher intestinal extraction rate compared to other amino acids and results in more effective cleansing properties.

Glutamine can be readily converted into glutamic acid which acts as a precursor to the neurotransmitter GABA or gamma amino butyric acid. It is also considered to be an excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamine effectively transports ammonia to the liver transforming it into a less harmful form, urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys to reduce toxic effects.

Glutamine can also be converted into alanine which can be transformed into glucose to be used as a fuel source during intense and extra-long workouts. Furthermore, post-surgery patients benefit a lot from glutamine since it can shorten recovery time and hasten healing by improving nitrogen balances, lymphocyte recovery as well as intestinal permeability without any side effects.

Many bodybuilders take glutamine supplements since these are highly effective in increasing energy and endurance for weight training. By balancing nitrogen levels, glutamine helps stimulate muscle protein synthesis that leads to boosts in muscle size and strength. Individuals now can expect to stay strong and focused to last their workouts and avoid over training.