Glutamine a non-essential amino acid is the primary energy source for the whole body immune system and aid in the prevention of athlete post-exercise catabolism.

Glutamine is involved in more metabolic processes than any other amino acid in the body and the primary energy source for the whole immune system. 1/3 of our body amino acid pool comes in the form of glutamine and during times of stress, physical workout; fasting, immune deficiencies etc, the energy source are depleted.

Energy source from glutamine is found in many foods high in protein, such as fish, meat, beans and dairy products. Few healthy people are glutamine deficient because the body makes its own and adequately supplied with all the dietary glutamine they need. However, deficiencies often develop and as such, a physician should be consulted for the supplemental use of glutamine for the support of serious health conditions.

Glutamine supplement used by weight lifter, body builder as body building nutrition to prevent muscle breakdown after workout. It serves as an energy source required by the body and replenishes the body stores of amino acid that have been used during everyday activities. It has also been shown to increase recovery rate and growth hormone level.

Energy source

Benefits of glutamine as energy source to a body builder, athletes are:

1. For prevention of post exercise infection in performance athletes: regardless of the bodybuilder diet, there is always risk of catabolism and at this point, glutamine as energy source of supplementation might be beneficial.
    
2. When trying to get very lean, some bodybuilders go to the extreme to further increases calorie deficit and increase exercise volume - beyond that of a normal bodybuilder on a fat loss program. This can lead to exercise induced stress and catabolism and energy source from glutamine may help to reduce exercise related catabolism.
    
3. For post-exercise infection prevention in endurance athletes: who train under extreme conditions several times a day and suffer under extreme stress, energy source from glutamine may be beneficial.

Other benefits of glutamine's:

1. Glutamine boost immune system functions.
2. Without glutamine there is no production of immune cells and this just how critical glutamine was to the immune system.
3. Glutamine the main food for cells that line and protect the entire digestive system.
4. Cells (enterocytes) that make up the digestive organs and tissues use glutamine as fuel to repair damaged tissue and grow new tissues.

Who is likely to be glutamine deficient?

• Energy source from glutamine depleted during fasting, starvation, cirrhosis, and illnesses in general and weight loss associated with cancer.

IMPORTANT:
Adopt a balance approach in body building nutrition and supplement with a body building workout routine.

Disclaimer:
The information presented is not intended for the treatment or prevention of disease nor a substitute for medical treatment, nor as an alternative to medical advice.

It is presented for information purposes, to increase the public knowledge of developments in the field of supplements and should not be adopted without a consultation with your health professional.

Use of the information provided is at the sole choice and risk of the reader.

Page topic – glutamine