Supplement Review: Glutamine

In the past couple years, glutamine has gained importance through studies revealing its unique contribution to protein synthesis (muscle growth), anti-catabolic breakdown functions (prevents muscle tissue breaking down) and growth hormone elevating effects. Due to these effects, glutamine plays an important part in your body by aiding recovery of muscle cells.

Under normal circumstances the human body is more than capable of producing enough glutamine necessary. But in some cases more glutamine is required than the human body is able to produce, this is called glutamine depletion. Glutamine depletion can be caused by illness like the common cold, extensive burns, surgery etc. The other main cause of glutamine depletion is intense physical exercise. 

Glutamine Benefits:

Below are some of the direct roles in which glutamine can boost your performance and assist your body in building/repairing muscle...

1.    Stimulates muscle protein synthesis by donating nitrogen to build proteins

2.    Decreases muscle recovery time

3.    Increases growth hormone production and release

4.    Decreases muscle catabolism during exercise

5.    Increases endurance by replenishing glycogen under conditions of glycogen depletion

6.    Decreases the chances of illness/infection by boosting your immune system

7.    Prevents over-training from high loads and long duration activities

I suggest that glutamine should be taken before and after every workout.  The amount will depend on what you are trying to accomplish and the intensity of your exercise regime.