What should you know about glutamine?

Glutamine is a very important amino acid, but many people are still unaware of its benefits. What should you know about glutamine? In this article you will learn what glutamine can do for you and what are the main advantages of using it.

Glutamine is one of the 20 essential amino acids your body uses. It’s also an example of endogenous amino acids that can be produced by the body naturally. Glutamine can be also found in food.  However, for some people stores of glutamine might not be enough to meet their bodies’ needs. There is a shortfall of this substance, or there may be benefits to increasing intake for health reasons. Glutamine deficiency can damage the mucosa of the intestines, which results in reduced immunity.  The demand for glutamine increases with physical activity. Therefore, with increased demand, additional supplementation is recommended. Glutamine is a supplement for all athletes, regardless of the discipline. It replenishes the level of this substance in the body.

Support for athletes’ immune system

Glutamine supplements are created especially for athletes and physically active people. Glutamine is the main source of energy for the intestines. It’s also a necessary element that helps intestines to work properly. L-glutamine can also boost immune cell activity in the gut. It helps to prevent infection and inflammation, as well as to soothe the intestinal tissue. Because glutamine has positive effect on the immune system, its supplementation is especially important for athletes. Each workout, to some extent, reduces your body’s immunity and increases the susceptibility to various types of infections. Intensive workout reduces not only the effectiveness of the immune system, but also the level of L-Glutamine in the body.

Another important property of glutamine is the prevention of intestinal villi atrophy. The intestinal villi have a very important task – they trap bacteria and prevent it from moving. By improving this process, glutamine additionally supports the body’s immunity. In addition to supporting the immune system, glutamine also has anti-catabolic effects. This property is especially important for athletes and people, who perform high-intensity physical exercises. Glutamine is an amino acid that can be converted into asparagine, arginine or lysine – substances necessary for the proper building of collagen proteins.

L-glutamine with anti-catabolic effect

If you train a lot and live an active life, you probably have heard, at least once, of a phenomenon called muscle catabolism. This is an unfavorable condition, both during body-mass reduction and also for people who are actively building muscle mass. The phenomenon of catabolism causes the breakdown of muscle fibers, which in turn leads to their atrophy. If you want to build up your muscles and strive to build a strong, athletic figure, you should effectively counteract muscle catabolism. In this case, glutamine supplementation will be an invaluable help.

As already mentioned, glutamine can transform into asparagine, arginine and lysine, which are the basic, extremely important building components that make up collagen and muscle proteins. This property distinguishes it from other substances – thanks to it, you can effectively prevent the breakdown of muscle tissue. In addition, taking glutamine can protect joints and tendons. This is one of the reasons why athletes, especially those who carry heavy loads, include glutamine in their diets. Thanks to glutamine, you will not only take care of your immunity, but also be able to continue your uninterrupted training sequence.

Regardless of whether you are a beginner athlete or an advanced professional, glutamine supplementation can be an extremely important support for you.