Powerful Amino Acid Supports Muscle, Immune & Digestive Health

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid (building block of protein) in the body. While Glutamine is technically considered a “non-essential” amino acid (meaning the body can produce it under normal circumstances), it’s recently been reclassified as a “conditionally-essential” amino acid, meaning the body has proven to need extra glutamine to cope with inflammation and stress.

It’s easy to understand why glutamine is essential when you review its many vital functions. Glutamine supports brain function, intestinal health, digestion, lean muscle mass, tissue health , and elimination of toxins in the body. Sound like a lot? There’s more. Glutamine is also the chief fuel source for immune cells (like macrophages and lymphocytes) and also for the cells that line the intestines and help regulate healthy pH balance.

Fuel for the Immune System

Glutamine is an all-star for the immune system, by maintaining healthy immune cell function.  As the chief fuel source, glutamine protects and enables immune cells to multiply and fight bad guys more effectively.

Glutathione Booster & Detoxification Aid

Glutamine handily helps increase glutathione reserves, which in turn promotes healthy metabolism and liver function. Glutamine specifically operates as a nitrogen transport, converting excess ammonia to harmless urea. 

Muscle Tissue Maintenance – Important for Aging!

Skeletal muscle, or the muscle all along the bones that allows for movement, contains 60 percent of the body’s total glutamine stores and is responsible for distributing glutamine to the rest of the body.

Since glutamine is extracted from muscles rapidly during exercise to fuel cells, keeping a high supply of glutamine in the muscles during and after exercise or other physical stresses helps to maintain muscle rejuvenation. Glutamine also supports the body in synthesizing protein and building muscle mass. This is particularly helpful for aging muscles!

Allergy Reduction + Repairing Leaky Gut & Gastric Damage

Muscles may store the most glutamine, but the gastrointestinal tract uses the most Glutamine on a daily basis.  Glutamine supports healthy intestinal function, supports a healthy lining the intestines, and promotes overall gut health and immune function. 

Irritation of the gut by stress, unhealthy foods, prescription drugs, and unfriendly organisms can make for what is now known as a “leaky gut.” Leaky gut allows large food molecules to cross from the intestine into the bloodstream. These undigested molecules provoke immune system attacks, leading to further food allergies and even autoimmune disease.

Glutamine has proven helpful in supporting overall stomach health.   One study conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found glutamine significantly helpful in maintaining healthy gastric funtion.

The same research team has also shown that glutamine promotes over all cell health and stimulates detoxification.
 

Notes:

1. Glutamine should be taken with cold or room tempurature liquids. Heat destroys glutamine, so do not add it to hot liquids or foods that will be cooked.

2. Those with kidney disease, liver disease, or Reye syndrome should not take Glutamine.

Glutamine passed its first quality test with no sweat. Click here for the official test results.

References:

Newsholme P., Curi R., Pithon-Curi T. C., Murphy C. J., Garcia C. & Pires de Melo M. (1999) Glutamine metabolism by lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils: its importance in health and disease. J. Nutr. Biochem. 10:316-324.[Medline]

Patrick L. Nutrients and HIV: part three - N-acetylcysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, L-glutamine, and L-carnitine. Altern Med Rev 2000;4:290-305.

Miller AL. Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature. Altern Med Rev 1999;4:239-48.

Buchman AL. Glutamine for the gut: mystical properties or an ordinary amino acid? Curr Gastroenterol Rep 1999;1:417-23.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15090905

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16543791

Alternative to antibiotics for combating damage done by stomach ulcers.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090515104223.htm