Supplemental Info

Glutamine

RDA: conditionally essential

Glutamine intake becomes essential during times of excessive stress, acute burns, and with inflammatory bowel disease.

Glutamine is an amino acid, building blocks to protein. The body synthesizes glutamine from glutamic acid, a non-essential amino acid.

Functions:

Glutamine provides the main energy source to the gut cells and acts as a preferred source for the brain. Glutamine acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain playing a role in mood regulation.

Glutamine offers critical support to the repair of gut tissue and is required in the maintenance of normal gut permeability. Chemotherapy often damages the rapidly reproducing gut cells. Glutamine supplementation supports the regeneration of healthy gut cells. Other rapidly reproducing cells like certain immune cells benefit from glutamine.

Glutamine participates in the synthesis of B3, niacin and the metabolism of uric acid and arginine. Glutamine also contributes to balancing the acid-base ratio in the body. Glutamine often reduces carbohydrate cravings due to poor blood sugar management.

Deficiency: Glutamine deficiency does not normally occur. During strenous athetic training, acute bowel inflammation, and acute trauma, a glutamine deficiency can occur. If not supplemented, the body will take glutamine from muscle tissue. In extreme and long-term conditions this can result in muscle wasting.

Glutamine deficiency may cause increased infections, in particular, respiratory infections.

Sources: Protein sources including cheese, yoghurt, sausage, pork and also granola.

Absorption: The body readily and easily absorbs glutamine powder.

Indications: Crohns, Colitis, Cancer, Athletic training, Acute and long-term stress, Mood disorders, Alcoholism, Diarrhea, and Ulcers.

Contraindications: None.

Interactions: No known interactions.

Toxicity: No known toxicity.