There are many benefits of glutamine, which is one of the 20 amino acids, the building blocks of protein, required by the human body. It is considered a non-essential amino acid, meaning that the body can manufacture it naturally and therefore it does not have to be consumed in the diet, although it is naturally occurring in many of the foods humans eat. Because it plays a role in so many important bodily processes, however, particularly in muscle and other tissue repair, many people prefer to take it as a supplement. Benefits of glutamine, available in pill and powder form, include several types of cell building and repair, boosting the immune system, and maintaining the acid-base balance in kidney cells. It is especially popular with serious weightlifters for its role in speeding muscle recovery.
Made up of a substance known as glutamic acid, glutamine is the most plentiful amino acid found in the bloodstream. As much as 90 percent of it is produced by muscle tissue, though it can also be synthesized by the lungs and brain, and it is one of the only amino acids with the ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier. As an amino acid, its main job is manufacturing protein for use in the body, but it also is essential for use by several types of cells and organs, so the benefits of glutamine are far-reaching.
The kidneys require glutamine to regulate the acid-base balance, as it is capable of producing ammonium, which is necessary for the metabolism of waste produces by the urinary system. It can also be metabolized for energy by the body’s cells as part of the Krebs cycle, a chemical reaction in cells during which glutamine and other proteins may be converted to carbon dioxide and water. Another of the important benefits of glutamine is that it is involved in the anabolic or tissue-building processes in muscle cells, as it stimulates the repair of muscle fibers that are torn as a result of weight training. It is the repair of these microscopic tears that produces increases in muscle size and strength.
Though it is available in foods such as eggs, chicken, fish, dairy, and leafy greens, glutamine is often sought after as a supplement. Benefits of glutamine have been widely researched, and recent studies have linked it to not only muscle cell building but to aiding in gastrointestinal function and speeding recovery time following a surgery. As such, bodybuilders, individuals with GI tract conditions, and those who have recently had an operation have been known to supplement with glutamine, which is readily available in pill and powder form at drugstores, supermarkets, and other health retailers.
