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L-Glutamine

What Is It?

L-glutamine is the most prevalent amino acid in the bloodstream, accounting for 30 to 35 percent of the amino acid nitrogen in the plasma. Because glutamine contains two ammonia groups, one from its precursor, glutamate, and the other from free ammonia in the bloodstream, one of glutamine's roles is as a "nitrogen shuttle," which helps protect the body from high levels of ammonia. Thus, glutamine can act as a buffer, accepting excess ammonia, then releasing it when needed to form other amino acids, amino sugars, nucleotides, and urea. This capacity to accept and donate nitrogen makes glutamine the major vehicle for nitrogen transfer between tissues.

How It Works

Glutamine can be converted to other amino acids, to glucose in the liver, and contributes to nucleotide, amino sugar, and protein biosynthesis. Glutamine is one of the three amino acids involved in glutathione synthesis. Glutathione, an important intracellular antioxidant and hepatic detoxifier, is comprised of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. During catabolic stress, for instance, intracellular glutamine levels can drop more than 50 percent, and plasma concentration falls 30 percent. It is under these circumstances that supplemental glutamine becomes necessary.

Indications

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Poor memory and concentration
• Blood sugar instability
• Alcoholism - helps to decrease the craving for alcohol
• To detoxify ammonia & other poisonous waste products in your body
• Stress
• Muscle support & building - especially with prolonged exercise or for athletes & body builders
• Increases growth hormone release - in doses of 2 gms daily
• Improving mental fatigue
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Ulcers
• Helps protect against the side effects and to increase the benefits of cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatment
• Helps make DNA (cellular genetic material)

Potential Problems

As of yet, no known side effects have been reported from the use of free form L-Glutamine. L-Glutamine is a natural amino acid produced by our bodies and is believed to be safe. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplements.