Glutamine - Triathlon Week

Robert G. · 01-04-2003, 08:27 PM

Anybody use glutamine as a recovery supplement? Just curious about your experience with it.

trimom · 01-05-2003, 04:58 PM

Hi Robert! What is glutamine?

Robert G. · 01-05-2003, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trimom
Hi Robert! What is glutamine?

Hi Trimom,

Glutamine is short for l-glutamine, which is a nonessential amino acid found in high amounts in your body (your body can make it).

Some studies with athletes have shown that additional supplementation of gluatmine can help strengthen your immune system and help speed the repair of the damage that occurs in your muscles after strenuous exercise, thereby speeding up recovery time. It had also been shown to slow or prevent muscle-wasting and helps to provide 'fuel' to your muscles.

I've taken it during cycles of hard workouts and have not noticed any difference in recovery time, etc. I know supplementation is not a magic bullet, but I don't want to waste my money:o ... I know bodybuilders swear by it, and I'm wondering if anyone here takes it as a supplement.

Here is a more detailed description of Glutamine:

Glutamine is classified as a nonessential amino acid since it can be readily synthesized by various tissues such as the skeletal muscles, liver, and adipose tissue. However, research indicates that glutamine is conditionally essential when the metabolic demand for glutamine exceeds the amount available in the free glutamine pool and that which can be provided by de novo synthesis (1).

During exercise or other times of metabolic stress (e.g. fasting, severe injury, illness, etc.), the demand for plasma glutamine markedly increases. For instance, various cells of the immune system such as the lymphocytes and macrophages depend on glutamine as a primary fuel source, and thus the demand for glutamine increases when an immunological response is mounted (2).

The enterocytes of the small intestines are the largest consumers of glutamine accounting for about 40-50% of glutamine consumption. Furthermore, glutamine is required for the synthesis of nucleotides. Thus, a sufficient supply of glutamine is particularly important for rapidly dividing cells such as the enterocytes and the immune cells. Therefore, de novo synthesis of glutamine may be insufficient to meet the physiological demand during times of severe, metabolic stress when the amount of free glutamine is rapidly depleted (3).

The skeletal muscles are the primary sites for glutamine synthesis and storage as glutamine contributes to approximately 60% of the free amino acids within the skeletal muscles. Glutamine is also the most abundant amino acid within the plasma (3). Glucocorticoid hormones such as cortisol are released during such times of stress and promote the proteolysis of muscle proteins and the release of glutamine into the plasma to attenuate the increased demand for free glutamine. During hypoglycemic conditions such as the fasting state (after approximately 12 hours of fasting), the branched-chain amino acids within the muscle undergo the transamination process (under the influence of the glucocorticoid hormones) to yield keto-acids which are available as precursors for gluconeogenesis or ketogenesis (4).

Consequently, glutamate and alanine are generated from their keto-acid counterparts (alpha-keto-glutarate and pyruvate respectively) during the transamination process. Glutamine is synthesized from glutamate and ammonia via glutamine synthetase (4). Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid generated in the muscle tissue during this time since glutamine formation is independent of glycolysis whereas alanine is formed directly from pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis. The majority of nitrogen loss from muscle tissue occurs during the fasting state through glutamine (5).

Glutamine may be metabolized to form glucose in the liver. Under certain conditions (e.g. acidosis), glutamine may also be utilized by the kidneys where it is converted into glutamate and then into alpha-keto-glutarate which enters the renal gluconeogenic pathway. Within the small intestines, glutamine is also metabolized into alanine which is further metabolized by the liver as a gluconeogenic precursor (4).

brettbastian · 01-08-2003, 05:03 PM

I use it during peak times of training and have not seen any benefit, I think? I don't think it works the way they claim but how can you say for sure. I have the same thought about vitamins.

Zylo · 09-19-2004, 02:19 PM

I've used Gluatmine and I cant' say I notice any difference in my performance.

When I'm on creatine, I feel pumped and full of energy and I love the stuff. Makes me feel great.

Glutamine? I've tried tablets, I've tried powder form, I've mixed it into my protein drinks, I've mixed it in with creatine drinks and I never notice any difference.

Give it a shot if you want and see how you like it. Just buy a small small jug of it. I still have half a tub sitting in my closet that I'll never use.

Good luck :)