Glutamine

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krhollen's picture

krhollen

On Feb 23rd Fastest posted the following:
"Has anyone on this forum ever taken glutamine. Did you notice a massive difference in strength? Does anyone know if it is a steroid or whether it is banned in sport?"

On Feb 24th krhollen posted:
"Glutamine represents 20% of the free-form amino acid in the blood system, 60% of the free-form amino acid in the cell. Within 6 hours of a heavy weight training session the body will strip out all stores of glutamine. At this time you will either supplement with glutamine or the body will tear down muscle to obtain the constituents of glutamine. "

"Glutamine is used primarily for the digestive system and the immune system. It has been noted that many things grow better in a glutamine solution. Glutamine has been associated with the natural release of growth hormone. "

"Glutamine is an anti-catabolic nutrient, i.e. prevents the breaking down of muscle. It is not a steroid and is not banned by any organization. You will not see dramatic results by taking glutamine, it is just a good idea. Dosages range from 5 grams to 20 grams after exercise, with similar dosages at bedtime. Buy the powder not the pills."

On Feb 25th MaxQ posted:
"However, Glutamine in supplemental form also loads the body with toxic ammonia. The correct supplement to look for is OKG or orthinine alpha-ketoglutarate which is the ammonia free carbon skeleton of glutamine."

For those interested I am posting the following:

"Hyperammonemia increases the utilization of branched-chain amino acids in muscle when ketoglutarate is low, and this is further enhanced by glutamine depletion."

Mol Genet Metab. 2004 Apr;81 Suppl:52-7. Ammonia toxicity to the brain and creatine. Bachmann C, Braissant O, Villard AM, Boulat O, Henry H. Laboratoire Central de Chimie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, LCC, CHUV, Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Inaddition to this, Glutamine is reported to buffer ammonia in the system. Any reports of gastiric irritation would be the results of cheap forms of glutamine generally found at you local Walmart.

Glutamine

Mark's picture

Mark

I've used Glutamine before and notice nothing at all. It is also supposed to help recovery and is anti-catabolic, so it may be working behind the scenes, but to notice any difference I would say no.

Glutamine

Bill Franklin's picture

Bill Franklin

Unless you take Glutamine on an empty stomach, by itself you will see no effect at all!

Glutamine Revisited

krhollen's picture

krhollen

Mark is correct in saying that glutamine is a behind-the-scene anti-catabolic. One should not expect to see direct results. The recommendation here is there is irrefutable scientific evidence that states glutamine is part of the overall nutritional equation necessary for optimum performance. If you are using the word optimum, then include glutamine. If optimum is not necessary for your regiment, glutamine is optional.

Bill stated that glutamine must be taken on an empty stomach. This is old gym room talk that has no scientific barring. If you take 2 grams of glutamine there will not be any increase in blood plasma glutamine levels, due to the absorption in the intestinal track. It is well documented that one needs approximately 3 grams of glutamine, with or without food, to see any change in glutamine blood plasma levels. Since 60% of the glutamine in the system is in the cell itself, the question is how to get the glutamine into the cell? This is answered in the same way as how to get creatine or protein into the cell? Exercise will increase the receptor sites allowing nutritional uptake by the cell. Insulin will help with the transport of nutrition into the cell with or without exercise. The most desirable oral glutamine administration is 8 grams of glutamine. Since glutamine is an amino acid, the overall synthesis of glutamine by the system is accentuated by the inclusion of liquid carbohydrates preferably glucose or dextrose.

Glutamine

Bill Franklin's picture

Bill Franklin

Krhollen apparently disregards three independent studies which state Glutamine is best taken on an empty stomach! Due to the fact that each amino acid competes for absorption. For all of the Glutamine to be fully utilized it should indeed be taken on an empty stomach.

Glutamine

A-J's picture

A-J

Glutamine!!!

Actually aids in the protection of nerves and cells in the frontal lobes!!!
And is used to prevent the onset of conditions such as alzhimers.

It also helps in the protection of nerves and cells everywhere else too but mainly in the brain!

Glutamine / naturally

MrTideman's picture

MrTideman

A-J wrote:
Glutamine!!!

Yeah! This is a key word, looked for in the protein powder I just bought a few weeks ago as a new gold member at the local GNC (General Nutrition Store), the manager there, Mr. ___ very knowledgable about taking this AFTER the workout (label says BEFORE too for strength), and I've read too of taking the powder on an empty stomach naturally produces the HGH needed as cystine also from the yoke of an egg is how your pituitary gland stays healthy, reading that as we all age, it shrinks in size and then to die, so to maintain. This glutamine first read by me in an e-mail from one of the female bodybuilders over at http://www.herbiceps.com with great biceps of 17-inch + more BELIEVE IT OR NOT: for Gina Davis, Christine Prinn, and Tina Lockwood of course at 18 1/2 inches! wow! It being expended during exercise, so to concentrate on upper and lower body parts on seperate days.

I found this site by your post of phosphocreatine over at http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/adenosine-triphosphate.html found as #3 on page 1 of http://www.google.com for this word, and your EXCELLENT info about the 30-second wait between sets (of reps of 12-15 is my routine, or at least to 10) read before, and with the local trainer saying 2-3 sets for general health, but to build muscle, to go to "the seventh or eighth interval" like I've read in Dave Draper's e-letters too of him going 10 sets, and me just recently to 11 + 12 probably stopping there by increasing weights each time, and now with 10+ reps per set with that extra 1-2+ in the last 8-10 second energy boost as indicated over at http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1608/5_19/100545127/p1/article.jhtml goes over to the print version with more info at http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1608/5_19/100545127/print.jhtml found at Google for the three words: muscle gain rest.

Last Friday when at the local Planet Fitness I did take that Energy Boost tablet also purchased from G.N.C., and compared it to none taken yesterday, noticing my INCREASE of reps and weights withOUT it, so maybe every now and then? Sometimes the multi-vitamin too after breakfast. The protein shake of two scoops with about 8-10 ounces of water makes a great like milkshake.

This is my first post here to introduce myself over at the entry page too, wishing to hear from and read of how others are doing in improving themselves for whatever sport too in the gym, getting motivated by these gals with the 16+ inch biceps (mine to only 16-inch at present), see also Elena Seiple too to 16 1/4", learning new details of HOW they probably got to there every day. Myself reading too of having to gain 10 lbs. of muscle for every inch of arm, so to definately work on my legs too.

Yours truly, Joe