What is glutamine?

Glutamine is one of the endogenous amino acids, i.e. naturally synthesized in the human body. This amino acid is the preferred fuel for rapidly dividing cells, such as enterocytes, i.e. intestinal epithelial cells, which determine the most important functions of the small intestine, i.e. final digestion and assimilation of nutrients, and for immune system cells: lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages. Glutamine may be a conditionally essential amino acid in people with diseases associated with catabolism , because it was observed in one of the studies that the concentration of circulating glutamine in the plasma decreases in fatal disease and after major surgery. In some patients, the synthesis and release of glutamine from skeletal muscles are insufficient to meet the body's demand, and in turn, glutamine deficiency can lead to damage of the mucous membrane of the small intestine, which in consequence contributes to increased permeability of the intestinal wall and bacterial translocation.

Glutamine for people who train

In the case of training individuals, intense physical effort undoubtedly results in heat stress, which then leads to damage to the tight junctions that ensure the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and as a result, the aforementioned barrier is breached and bacterial endotoxins are transferred. The passage of endotoxins from the intestines into the bloodstream increases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and triggers a number of different symptoms, such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, a feeling of sloshing in the intestines or even abdominal pain. It is believed that glutamine supplementation may be a helpful solution for athletes and physically active people, especially endurance disciplines , who often struggle with gastrointestinal problems. Several studies have observed that long-term glutamine intake reduces intestinal permeability caused by regularly undertaken intensive physical activity, which in practice may be a useful protective tool for athletes with a sensitive digestive tract. In addition, in the case of seriously ill people, the use of glutamine may also improve the nitrogen balance of the body, its nutritional status and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the immune system, while reducing infection rates, mortality and length of hospital stay. However, there is little reliable scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis regarding the effectiveness of glutamine supplementation in increasing muscle mass, muscle strength, post-exercise recovery or even improving exercise capacity in athletes and physically active people.

Literature:

1. McRae MP: Therapeutic benefits of glutamine: An umbrella review of meta-analyses. Biomed Rep. 2017 May; 6(5): 576–584. doi:10.3892/br.2017.885.
2. Legault Z., Bagnall N., Kimmerly DS: The Influence of Oral L-Glutamine Supplementation on Muscle Strength Recovery and Soreness Following Unilateral Knee Extension Eccentric Exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015 Oct;25(5):417-26. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2014-0209.
3. Zuhl MN, Lanphere KR, Kravitz L. et al.: Effects of oral glutamine supplementation on exercise-induced gastrointestinal permeability and tight junction protein expression. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2014 Jan 15;116(2):183-91. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00646.2013.
4. Zuhl M., Dokladny K., Mermier C. et al.: The effects of acute oral glutamine supplementation on exercise-induced gastrointestinal permeability and heat shock protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cell Stress Chaperones. 2015 Jan;20(1):85-93. doi:10.1007/s12192-014-0528-1.

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