Glutamine, one of the most valued supplements used by bodybuilders around the world today. Yet many still look past this amazing product when trying to reach their full potential, not realizing that it could one thing they have been lacking.
What is it?
Glutamine is one of the twenty amino acids that the genetic material (DNA and RNA) use to create protein for use by the cells in our body. It is classed as a nonessential amino acid as it can be readily synthesized by many tissues such as skeletal muscles, liver and adipose tissue. It is the most abundant single amino acid in the bodys blood stream comprising of 61% of the free intracellular amino acid pool. Comparing this to Branched chain amino acids which only comprise of 8.4% of the pool. Glutamine is also one of the only amino acid to cross the blood-brain barrier. This supper supplement is also the primary transporter of nitrogen to the muscle cells as it consists of two nitrogen side chains consisting of 19% nitrogen.
Glutamine has gained great credibility through research that has revealed its unique contribution to protein synthesis (muscle growth), help prevent muscle breakdown, and increase growth hormone. But what is even more amazing apart from glutamine muscle cell recovery is its supplemental benefits for almost any life style.
- Improves brain functioning
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Heart function
- Improve athletic performance
- Strengthen immune function
- Decrease sugar and alcohol cravings
- Wound healing
- Maintain Ph balance
How it works for muscle growth and protection?
During times of catabolic stress (working out) intracellular glutamine levels can drop more than 50%, with plasma concentration falling 30%. Since the muscle cells are where the majority of glutamine is stored it is essential to supplement.
During these times of stress glutamine is released into the blood stream and transported to the tissues in need of repair. Glutamine drives protein into the muscle cell where it is synthesised for growth. This is why glutamine is so essential during and post workout where levels are depleted. Glutamine is also said to promote nitrogen retention, and prevent loss of muscle protein.
As a bodybuilder or an athlete, glutamine has the following benefits:
- Stimulates muscle protein synthesis by donating nitrogen to build proteins.
- Increases growth hormone which can induce positive body composition and mood changes
- Decreases muscle catabolism during exercise
- Increases endurance by replenishing glycogen under conditions of glycogen depletion
- Decreases muscle recovery time
- Decreases the chances of illness/infection by boosting your immune system
- Prevents over-training from high loads and long duration activities (recall that blood glutamine levels are an excellent marker of anabolic status).
The evidence!
A study conducted by LSU College of Medicine revealed that just a small dose of 2 grams of glutamine can raise GH levels by over 4X that of the placebo. Other research supports glutamines immune enhancing ability, where high doses of glutamine lead to greater amounts of virus and infection fighting cells. This study demonstrated that the cells of the immune system depend on glutamine as a primary fuel source.
Hopefully after reading through these facts about glutamine you will have realised that you should seriously take some consideration towards supplementing it. It can result in massive gains in strength, muscle size and immune function. If you’re looking for a way to boost your workout performance and see real results, this is what your after.
Consuming glutamine during and after your workouts is essential for the maintenance of muscle tissue and fighting fatigue. Taking 5 grams right before you retire at night will help minimize muscle breakdown while your sleep and also increase your body’s natural secretion of growth hormone.
You should now be able to clearly see that it is very important for the process of building muscle that glutamine is a supplement no body builder should be without.
