L Glutamine

The most common of amino acids found in the body, Glutamine, or L-Glutamine free form, makes up over 61 percent of the skeletal muscle tissue. It is a fuel to the digestive tract and the immune system craves it, and 19 percent of a Glutamine molecule is made up of nitrogen, making it the primary conductor of nitrogen to the muscles. It is especially found in high concentrations in the brain, muscles, gut lining, lungs, heart, kidney, and liver where it has multiple and critical functions.

Glutamine deficiency is common in today's busy post-modernist lifestyle and is among the primary tests conducted by medical practitioners who utilize blood tests to ascertain the amino acid levels present in patients with symptoms of chronic illness, dysfunction in cognitive functioning and mood swings, making it an increasingly popular substance not just in the athletic world but in medical practice. During periods of stress, trauma or simply intensive sports training, Glutamine depletion occurs which manifests itself in the form of decreased strength, stamina and recovery - taking anywhere up to six days to return to normal levels.

L Glutamine has key functions in body organs, among the most important being the ability to aid the cognitive performance of the brain where it is concentrated 10-15 times more than in the blood. In the brain it can be used as an alternative fuel when glucose depletion occurs. It helps the brain focus, concentrate, work at optimum memory recall, intellectual performance, alertness, attentiveness, mood balance and eliminates mental fog.

Low-carb diet athletes and bodybuilders use Glutamine on a regular basis for this
reason because of the possibility of glucose depletion from such diets.

L-Glutamine is also associated with blood sugar control. When blood sugar is low, Glutamine works to suppress insulin to stop the further decline of the sugar levels. It also stimulates glycogen to be released to help increase the blood sugar to normal levels. And because it is a glycogenic amino acid it can convert to sugar - as it does in the brain - for energy production in a process called gluconeogenesis. This function has produced other interesting and varied use for Glutamine, especially in decreasing sugar and alcohol cravings.

This wonder protein base also plays a leading role in the well being of the digestive tract. Due to the frequency and volume that most athletes need to consume food they impose stress on the digestive system where glutamine can help ensure everything is in order.

An impaired gut can cause digestive and bowel problems, yeast infections, ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.

L Glutamine remains the primary source of energy for the various cells of the immune system. Exercise, viral and bacterial infections, and stress in general leads to Glutamine depletion that starves the immune cells. AIDS or cancer patients use up to 40 grams a day to sustain their immune systems. Additionally Glutamine is a substrate for glutathione, an amino acid which acts as a master antioxidant and helps enhance the immune function. In large doses it stimulates the immune response even under heavy stress. Generally though, dosages of 2-5 grams per day should be sufficient for normal healthy people to boost immune system function. Athletes however, should look to increase their dosage on an as needed basis if they tend to succumb to infections after heavy exercise.