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This supplement is advertised as aiding muscle growth and reducing muscle soreness as well as improving immune function. However, there is not convincing evidence that glutamine can improve gains in strength or size beyond that of normal protein supplementation (e.g. whey protein contains glutamine). L-glutamine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning it can be produced by the body, therefore supplementation of it is unlikely to yield any positive results.
During times of extreme trauma, such as in burns victims, circulating levels of glutamine are reduced and supplementation is beneficial. However, the low level trauma/stress caused by exercise does not cause a significant enough of a decrease in glutamine levels for supplementation to be necessary or beneficial. Furthermore, supplementation of glutamine in these situations of trauma is needed because glutamine is an amino acid used by the immune system to fight infection, not because it has any specific influence on gains in size and strength.
While habitual exercise does reduce circulating glutamine levels, there is no evidence that a normal conditioning or resistance training session causes an enough of a drop for supplementation to be necessary. Glutamine may be of interest to athletes competing in extremely stressful conditions, such as ultra endurance athletes (e.g. tour de France) where the immune system can become so compromised that supplementation is necessary.
Sizes: 100g (0.22lb), 500g (1.10lb), 1kg (2.20lb)
- Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid used by the body’s immune system to help fight infection. Supplementation is only really necessary in extreme causes of trauma, such as burns victims or car crash victims.
- Glutamine may be of use to athletes performing very stressful elite level exercise, such as ultra endurance athletes, who’s immune system could be compromised.
- There is no well-controlled scientific evidence to support the claims that specific glutamine supplementation can reduce muscle soreness or reduce muscle breakdown after resistance training.
Who’s it for
Specific glutamine supplementation is suitable for those who have recently experienced severe trauma, and therefore should already be in hospital. It might help immune function in athletes competing in very stressful elite competitions such as the tour de France.
How to use
Take one heaped teaspoon (5g) post workout. Can be added to a protein shake.
per serving (4.5g):
Calories: 18kcal, Protein: 4.5g
L-glutamine
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