Moderate, regular exercise increases blood glutamine levels, but extreme stress can significantly lower them (trauma, sepsis, inflammatory bowel disease, overtraining). After intense exercise, glutamine supplementation can help improve immunocompetence. 1
What is glutamine?
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in blood and muscles, it is a major nutrient that plays an important role in maintaining a healthy gut microbiota and immunity, in protein synthesis and the acid-base balance of the body. 2
Glutamine depletion leads to villous atrophy and increased intestinal permeability. Glutamine supplementation may improve intestinal barrier function in several conditions. 3,4,5
It is also used in the production of endogenous glucosamine, which in turn helps repair cartilage and tendons. 6
References:
1. Agostini F, Biolo G. Effect of physical activity on glutamine metabolism. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2010 Jan;13(1):58-64. doi:10.1097/MCO.0b013e328332f946. PMID: 19841583.
2. https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Solutions/PlantesSupplements/Fiche.aspx?doc=glutamine_ps
3. Perna S, Alalwan TA, Alaali Z, Alnashaba T, Gasparri C, Infantino V, Hammad L, Riva A, Petrangolini G, Allegrini P, Rondanelli M. The Role of Glutamine in the Complex Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Health: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Oct 22;20(20):5232. doi:10.3390/ijms20205232. PMID: 31652531; PMCID: PMC6834172.
4. Fujita T, Sakurai K. Efficacy of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in an experimental model of mucosal ulcerative colitis. Br J Surg. 1995 Jun;82(6):749-51. doi:10.1002/bjs.1800820611. PMID: 7627502.
5. Benjamin J, Makharia G, Ahuja V, Anand Rajan KD, Kalaivani M, Gupta SD, Joshi YK. Glutamine and whey protein improve intestinal permeability and morphology in patients with Crohn's disease: a randomized controlled trial. Dig Dis Sci. 2012 Apr;57(4):1000-12. doi:10.1007/s10620-011-1947-9. Epub 2011 Oct 26. PMID: 22038507.
6. Achamrah N, Déchelotte P, Coëffier M. Glutamine and the regulation of intestinal permeability: from bench to bedside. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2017 Jan;20(1):86-91. doi: 10.1097/MCO.00000000000000339. PMID: 27749689. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27749689/
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