Glutamine: Clinical perspectives and prescribing

As the most abundant and versatile amino acid in the human body, glutamine supports an impressive variety of biological functions including:^1-5

• The production of proteins for muscle tissue
• Fuelling intestinal and immune cells
• Supporting brain function
• Regulating the acid/alkaline balance
• Energy production intermediary

While the body makes the glutamine it needs for basic functioning, more may be required during conditions of metabolic stress characterised by catabolism and negative nitrogen balance, such as trauma or injury (including surgical trauma), prolonged stress, glucocorticoid use, excessive exercise, starvation, infection, sepsis, cancer, and severe burns.³

Skeletal muscle is the main source of glutamine, where it is synthesised, stored, and released for use by several organs and cells.⁵

L-glutamine is the dietary, biological and supplemental form of glutamine, with a typical dietary intake of L-glutamine being 5-10 g/day.³

Gastrointestinal protection and repair

In gut physiology, glutamine promotes enterocyte proliferation, regulates tight junction proteins, suppresses pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, and protects against apoptosis and cellular stresses during normal and pathologic conditions.⁶