Glutamine is a neutral, situationally essential amino acid that is most abundant in the blood and constitutes 50% of the free amino acid storage in the whole body, 75% of which is in the skeletal muscle and the majority of the rest in the liver. Since many tissues in the body can produce glutamine, it is considered a non-essential amino acid in normal metabolic situations. Despite this information, in cases of acute damage characterized by catabolism and negative nitrogen balance, it becomes conditionally essential, that is, it may need to be taken externally, because the metabolic utilization rate is higher than the synthesis rate. Glutamine contains two amine groups per molecule; It plays an important role as a nitrogen transmitter in purine and pyrimidine nucleic acid synthesis. It serves as an energy source and nitrogen carrier. It is the most important regulator of protein and gluconeogenesis synthesis. While glutamine can be synthesized at a high rate in muscles, its metabolism occurs in the intestines. Muscle depots; It is the direct source of glutamine, which is necessary for the intestinal epithelium.
While in the past it was thought that carbohydrates provided all the nutrients needed for immune system functions, current studies have shown that glutamine is also important for immune system cells. Glutamine level gradually decreases during prolonged activity in athletes, and considering that the athlete follows a healthy nutrition pattern, the glutamine level returns to normal within 24 hours. However, glutamine levels remain chronically low in athletes who engage in intense activity. When the connection between glutamine and immune system function is evaluated, these athletes with low glutamine levels are more prone to upper respiratory tract infections. In a study conducted on this subject, the glutamine level of 73% of athletes who had an infection was found to be below the required level. For this reason, glutamine supplementation can be recommended for bodybuilders who do intense strength exercises, thus increasing the basal glutamine level or preventing the decrease in glutamine level with protein taken after exercise.
In high-intensity training after glycogen intake, glutamine supplementation has no effect on performance. has no effect; Branched chain glutamine precursor It has been reported that although amino acids (BCAA) increase plasma glutamine levels and contribute positively to muscle recovery, they do not provide a significant increase in exercise performance.
Glutamine may prevent the decrease in the immune response after prolonged exercise. Additionally, during intense and prolonged exercise, the need for glutamine for immune response, intestinal function, and amino acid homeostasis may increase. Muscle glutamine may decrease in order to maintain the anabolic state; if glutamine drops below the critical level, athletes may make a rapid transition to the catabolic process.
When glutamine is examined in general, we cannot get a complete idea of its effect on athlete performance alone. Although there is no unity, it can provide a significant performance increase when used with carbohydrates or other amino acids.
The dosage of glutamine is 20-30 g/day. Glutamine has not been reported to have any side effects as long as it is used in the normal specified doses. It has been reported that it may cause hyperammonemia when used in higher than specified doses. It is also reported that long-term glutamine consumption increases the risk of cancer.
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