What Is Glutamine and What Is It Used For?

Glutamine is an amino acid produced by our own bodies and also found in food. It plays a role in several important functions, particularly those involving the muscles, intestines, and immune system.

Most of the time, the body can produce all the glutamine it needs. In some situations, however, such as severe infections, trauma, and other conditions that place significant demands on the body, the need for glutamine can increase. This is why glutamine is considered a conditionally essential amino acid.

Glutamine is also sold as a dietary supplement and is commonly found in products marketed to people who exercise. Claims about increased muscle mass, faster recovery, improved immunity, and benefits for gut health are common.

But what glutamine naturally does in the body and what happens when it is taken as a supplement are two different questions.

In This Article

What Is Glutamine Used For?

One of glutamine’s roles is to help the body transport nitrogen and produce substances needed for cell growth and renewal. It can also be used as a source of energy by some cells.

• The intestines are among the tissues that use the most glutamine
• Immune cells also depend on it to function and multiply
• Muscles, in turn, store and produce large amounts of this amino acid

Glutamine is also involved in processes that help the kidneys regulate the body’s acid-base balance. In other words, although it is best known for its connection to muscles and exercise, it is involved in much more than that.

Is Glutamine Good for Gut Health?

Glutamine plays an important role in gut health because it is a major source of energy for the cells lining the intestines. In addition to supporting the renewal of this lining, it helps maintain the intestinal barrier, which controls what can pass from the intestines into the rest of the body.

For this reason, glutamine is particularly studied in situations where this barrier may be compromised, such as severe and prolonged illnesses, inflammation, intestinal injuries, and aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy. In these cases, supplementation may help support recovery and maintain intestinal function.

Does Glutamine Help Build Muscle?

Glutamine is also widely used by people who do strength training and want to build muscle. Since muscles store large amounts of this amino acid, the idea emerged that taking glutamine could promote muscle growth.

So far, however, studies have not shown that supplementation consistently increases muscle mass. A review of 47 studies on glutamine and exercise found no significant benefits for body composition or physical performance.

Some studies have found effects on inflammation and muscle damage, but this does not mean that a person will gain more muscle or recover faster after a workout.

What About Immunity?

Immune cells also use glutamine, particularly when they are activated during an infection or inflammatory response. This has led to interest in the amino acid as a possible way to support the immune system, especially in people who are seriously ill.

However, studies in this area have produced mixed results. Some have found a reduction in infections with supplementation, but this effect has not been observed consistently, and there was no clear reduction in the risk of death.

For healthy people, on the other hand, there is no good evidence that taking glutamine improves immunity.

Which Foods Contain Glutamine?

Glutamine is found in protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs, milk and dairy products, beans, and soy. In addition, the body produces this amino acid itself and, under normal conditions, can meet its own needs.

During periods of major stress, such as severe infections and trauma, the body’s demand for glutamine may increase. This is when the need for glutamine can change and supplementation may play a different role than it would for a healthy person.

Is It Worth Taking Glutamine?

It depends on the situation. For healthy people who want to build muscle, improve performance, speed up recovery, or strengthen their immune system, there is no consistent evidence that supplementation provides these benefits.

This does not diminish the importance of glutamine to the body, since it is involved in many functions and is particularly important for tissues such as the intestines and for immune cells. What changes is how much the body needs and the situation in which the supplement is being used.

In some clinical conditions, supplementation may be considered. In these cases, the decision depends on the disease, nutritional status, and individual needs and should be made with professional guidance.

References ▼

• International journal of molecular sciences – The Roles of Glutamine in the Intestine and Its Implication in Intestinal Diseases
• Medicina – Glutamine Supplementation and Exercise: A Narrative Review of Biochemical Mechanisms and Timing Strategies
• Nutrients – Glutamine: Metabolism and Immune Function, Supplementation and Clinical Translation