Glutamine supplements are being touted as essential for a healthy body. Indeed, it is vital in helping you recuperate from physically stressful situations such as injuries, burns, surgery and disease. Healthy people have naturally high levels of glutamine. But before you buy a bottle of supplements, it is best to understand how glutamine enhances the muscular system and addresses metabolic concerns.
The Facts
The body naturally produces glutamine. It is one of the 20 amino acids, or the basic components of proteins that make up your body and help it to function properly. Glutamine helps fuel your immune system. It also maintains skeletal muscle, preventing tissue waste while helping control blood sugar levels and maintain electrolyte balance. Glutamine is also essential to proper brain function as well as keeping your kidneys, liver, pancreas and gallbladder in check.
Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid. This simply means that since the body produces glutamine, it is not necessary to acquire it from external sources. However, increasing glutamine levels through supplements and diet enhancements may be needed to help a person recover from severe injury, illness or other physical stress. Protein-rich foods such as red meat, fish, nuts and beans are good sources of glutamine. Supplements taken orally or administered through IV are also available.
Glutamine in Athletes
Many glutamine supplements are marketed today as body building and athletic aids. This is because the body needs glutamine to help repair muscle tissue that is damaged during high levels of physical activity. Daily glutamine supplements help athletes, body builders and people who exercise frequently by helping the body heal faster during training.
Glutamine and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The gastrointestinal tract also needs glutamine to help it . In this case, glutamine assists in absorbing nutrients and managing inflammation. Glutamine also protects the mucosa, or the lining of the digestive tract. Low glutamine levels make the intestines more prone to bacteria and toxins, leading to inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In this case, glutamine is believed to help the cells in the intestines heal.
While the role of glutamine in maintaining a healthy digestive system is established, studies are inconclusive as to use glutamine as treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.
Glutamine for Cancer Patients
Glutamine supplementation has been found to help protect cancer patients from the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs, such as methotrexate. Cancer also causes severe muscle wasting, hence glutamine can essentially help in rebuilding muscle mass. The body also converts certain amounts of glutamine to glutathione, which is an essential antioxidant. Glutamine therapy further improves recovery and reduces infections in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants.
Considerations
Scientific studies have yet to determine how much glutamine supplementation is exactly needed to optimize muscle development and treat intestinal diseases, cancer and other ailments related to low levels of this amino acid. A proper diet with the right amount of protein is enough to produce the right levels of glutamine necessary to maintain normal physical health.
Generally, it is best to consult your doctor first if you have any of these conditions:
* Allergy or hypersensitivity to monosodium glutamate (MSG)
* Liver disease
* High risk of seizures
* Bipolar disorder
* Pregnant or breastfeeding
Certain drugs and medications may also counteract with glutamine supplements. If you are taking other medicines, you should seek proper medical advice before increasing your glutamine intake. As with any other supplement, it is possible to experience side effects from taking additional glutamine.
Tags: amino acid, case glutamine, function properly, Glutamine also, , glutamine levels