L-Glutamine Powder - Supplements, Benefits, Side Effects - Dose

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L-Glutamine Powder/Capsules - Supplements, Benefits, Side Effects, Dose - Page 1
As recommended as a part of Dr. Atkins and Dr. Nicholas Perricone's Weight-loss Diet

Optimum Nutrition Glutamine -- Serving Size - 4.5g (1 Teaspoon).  Other Ingredients:  None.  Store in a cool, dry place.  Suitable for vegetarians. Suggested Use:  Take 1 heaping teaspoon or 5 capsules daily.  See article below for Dr. Atkins recommended dosage and/or refer to the continuation of the article below. Dosage and Use:  L-Glutamine is most effectively utilized when taken on an empty stomach.  It is easily soluble in juice or water and has a pleasant/benign taste.  For optimal and quickest absorption, it can be dissolved in the mouth.  The powder has slight sweet taste. The powder we offer contains no fillers.  It is well tolerated by the most highly allergic individuals.  There are no tablet binders, coatings, or colorings.  It is free of the most common allergens such as corn, soy, yeast, rice, barley, wheat, lactose (milk sugar) and all milk, citrus, fish and egg products.  No added flavorings, sugars, salt, artificial sweeteners, colorings, preservatives, or salicylates.

L-Glutamine -- One of the Top Health-Promoting Supplements in the World

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body, comprising more than 60% of the free amino acid pool in skeletal muscle and greater than 20% of total circulating amino acids.

There are many reasons for taking l- glutamine:  Healthier intestines, stronger immune system, enhanced muscle tone, helps combat fatigue and blood sugar issues and encourages a more agile brain.  For therapeutic uses, glutamine is especially recommended for people who suffer from problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, Chron's Disease, frequent NSAID users who need to protect their gastrointestinal tract, and anyone under heavy stress (including strenuous exercise) or recovering from injury or other trauma.  It supports growth hormone levels (when taken on an empty stomach before exercise or bedtime).  It is also used by athletes to improve exercise endurance -- actually turns itself into a carbohydrate when the athlete becomes carbohydrate depleted.

Curbs the Desire for Alcohol and Carbohydrates
Glutamine may also be helpful as an adjunct therapy for decreasing carbohydrate, alcohol and/or cocaine intake.  Using kudzu and d,l phenylalanine in association with l-glutamine is an additional consideration.  Most experts suggest taking 5-20 grams of l-glutamine per day when needed, between 2 and 3 grams at the onset of a desire for sweets and/or alcohol, and up to 40 grams per day for more serious concerns.

Glutamine is one of the 20 amino acids our body uses to build proteins.  These proteins are the building blocks for most components of our bodies, including muscles, bones, hair, hormones and more.  Glutamine plays a vital role in the proper functioning of many body systems.  Due to its importance in the body, the use of glutamine supplementation is the focus of intense research.

Of the 20 amino acids in our bodies, nine are considered "essential" and the other 11 are termed "non-essential."  The essential amino acids need to be obtained from our diet, as opposed to the non-essential ones, which our body can manufacture on its own.  When we eat, the proteins we ingest are broken down by our digestive system into their individual amino acids.  By linking amino acids back together in various combinations, our body synthesizes the proteins it needs.

Supports Surgery, Burns, Infections, & Prolonged Exercise Recovery
Since we are capable of making glutamine on our own, it was originally labeled a non-essential amino acid.  However, most scientists now consider l-glutamine to be a "conditionally" essential amino acid, because under certain conditions we are unable to make adequate amounts and thus need to obtain it from outside sources.  Studies have shown that our body's concentration of glutamine is markedly decreased during times of severe bodily stress, such as during major surgery, burns, starvation, serious infections and even prolonged exercise.1,2

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in our bodies, comprising approximately half of the free amino acids in our muscles and blood.3  The majority of our glutamine is manufactured and stored in skeletal muscle.  While our bodies synthesize most of the l-glutamine that we need, we also obtain some from the foods we eat.  Practically all proteins we consume contain some amount of glutamine, usually in the order of 4% to 8% of their total amino acid composition.  Given the average adult's daily protein intake, we probably obtain less than 10 grams of glutamine from our diet each day.4

Glutamine plays many roles in our body.  Research has shown l-glutamine to be integral in the proper function bodily functions.  It acts as a type of fuel for cells, especially for rapidly dividing cells such as enterocytes, colonocytes, lymphocytes and fibroblasts.5  During the manufacture of glutamine, a nitrogen molecule is taken from free ammonia in the body, thus it plays a role in protecting our bodies from high levels of ammonia and maintaining proper acid-base balance.4,6  When needed, our body can convert glutamine to sugar.  Glutamine is also involved in the manufacture of other amino acids, including glutathione, an important intracellular antioxidant.4

The small intestine is by far the greatest user of glutamine in the body.  Enterocytes (epithelial cells lining the small intestine) use glutamine as their primary fuel.4  It is felt that a lack of l-glutamine leads to a loss of epithelial cell integrity in the lining of the intestines.  This, in turn, may allow toxins and infectious agents to enter the body.8  Most research studies concerning glutamine and the gastrointestinal system involve the addition of l-glutamine to TPN (total parenteral nutrition).  Although glutamine has been shown to be beneficial when added to TPN solution, its role is still controversial and more studies are needed to determine its potential benefits and drawbacks.

Exercise
L-glutamine may play a role in enhancing the systems of athletes after prolonged strenuous exercise.  Glutamine regulation may be especially important in athletes.  Studies have shown that while l-glutamine levels rise after short-term exercise, they decrease after prolonged periods of exercise.14  It has been theorized that after exhaustive exercise, such as running a marathon, athletes are at an increased risk of low levels of necessary glutamine.  This is possibly due to decreased l-glutamine levels.15  On the other hand, it should be noted that regular, moderate exercise has been shown to be beneficial for sedentary individuals (yet another reason regular exercise can improve your health).14

Dr. Atkins Recommended Dosage
In his book, Dr. Atkin's Vita-Nutrient Solution, the late Dr. Atkins recommended between 5 and 20 grams per day when needed, between 2 and 3 grams at the onset of a desire for sweets, and up to 40 grams per day for more serious concerns.  Dr. Atkins recommended powdered L-glutamine as the easiest and most economical way to obtain this amino acid.7

Another Recommendation is to take 5 gm (1 heaping teaspoon of L-Glutamine powder) on an empty stomach before sleep and/or exercise (except in special cases mentioned throughout the article -- see link above).

When taking l-glutamine supplements, it is probably best to split the recommended dosage into two to four divided servings spread throughout the day.3

Pg 2 | Pg 3 | Pg 4 | Pg 5 | Conclusion/References

Order:  L-Glutamine

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