N-Acetyl-L Glutamine - Glutamine’s Cooler Cousin
N-acetyl-L-glutamine, a more stable form of glutamine, offers benefits like improved endurance and recovery, especially for athletes, and supports muscle protein synthesis and maintenance. It also plays a role in supporting brain function, immune function, and may help with managing conditions like protein-energy malnutrition.
Glutamine is a building block of protein and critical part of the immune system. What’s more, glutamine has a special role in intestinal health. Your body naturally produces this amino acid, and it is also found in many foods. Yet, you may be unsure if you need extra glutamine from supplements for optimal health.
This article explains why glutamine is important and discusses the benefits and safety of glutamine supplements.
Important for the Immune System
One of the most important functions of glutamine is its role in the immune system.
It is a critical fuel source for immune cells, including white blood cells and certain intestinal cells. However, its blood levels can decrease due to major injuries, burns or surgeries. If the body’s need for glutamine is greater than its ability to produce it, your body may break down protein stores, such as muscle, to release more of this amino acid.
Additionally, the function of the immune system can be compromised when insufficient amounts of glutamine are available. For these reasons, high-protein diets, high-glutamine diets or glutamine supplements are often prescribed after major injuries like burns.
Studies have also reported that glutamine supplements may improve health, decrease infections and lead to shorter hospital stays after surgery. What’s more, they have been shown to improve survival and reduce medical costs in critically ill patients.
Other studies have shown that glutamine supplements may also improve immune function in animals infected with bacteria or viruses.
Want to find out more?, click of these links to view the scientific & research studies.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2642618/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23313017
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26283217
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10485436
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19382426
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9178278
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23351361
Plays an Important Role in Intestinal Health
Glutamine’s immune system benefits are related to its role in intestinal health.
In the human body, the intestines are considered the largest portion of the immune system. This is because of the many intestinal cells with immune functions, as well as the trillions of bacteria that live in your intestines and impact your immune health.
Glutamine is an important energy source for intestinal and immune cells. It also helps maintain the barrier between the inside of your intestines and the rest of your body, thereby protecting against a leaky gut. This prevents harmful bacteria or toxins from moving from your intestines into the rest of your body.
Additionally, it is important for the normal growth and maintenance of the cells in the intestine. Due to the major role of the intestines in the immune system, glutamine may benefit your overall immune health by supporting the intestinal cells.
Want to find out more?, click of these links to view the scientific & research studies.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25163502
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22028151
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2642618/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369670/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24965526
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8974125
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10582122
Dosage, Safety and Side Effects
Since glutamine is naturally produced in the body and found in many foods, there is no concern that it’s harmful in normal quantities. It has been estimated that a typical diet may contain 500mg to 3000mg per day, although this amount could vary based on the types and quantities of foods consumed.
Studies on glutamine supplements have used a wide variety of doses, ranging from around 500mg per day up to very high doses of approximately 45000mg per day. No negative side effects were reported with this high dosage, but blood safety markers were not specifically examined.
Other studies have reported minimal safety concerns regarding short-term supplementation of up to 1500mg per day. Overall, it is believed that the short-term use of supplements is likely safe. However, some scientists have raised concerns about their sustained use at high doses.
Adding glutamine to a regular diet may cause a variety of changes in the way the body absorbs and processes amino acids. It is possible that glutamine supplements may not have the same effects if you eat an animal-based, high-protein diet, compared to a plant-based, lower-protein diet.
If you follow a plant-based diet with low glutamine content, you may be able to consume supplements while still receiving a normal daily amount of it overall.
If you decide to take a glutamine supplement, it is probably best to start with a conservative dose of around 500mg - 1000mg per day.
