Glutamine

Glutamine is the most abundant naturally occurring, non-essential amino acid in the human body. Glutamine plays a role in a variety of biochemical functions including:

• Protein synthesis, as any other amino acid
• Regulation of acid-base balance in the kidney by producing ammonium<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"></sup>
• Cellular energy, as a source, next to glucose<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"></sup>
• Nitrogen donation for many anabolic processes<sup id="cite_ref-Brosnan_1-1" class="reference"></sup>
• Carbon donation, as a source, refilling the Citric acid cycle.

Glutamine is a glucogenic amino acid, a glucogenic amino acid is an amino acid that can be converted into glucose through gluconeogenesis.

Gluconeogenesis is a metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate carbon substrates such as lactate, glycerol, and glucogenic amino acids. This process occurs during periods of fasting, starvation, low-carbohydrate diets, or intense exercise and is highly endergonic*. Gluconeogenesis is often associated with ketosis.

So understanding more about glutamine we can understand more about how to supplement with it. If you are on a low carb diet it is a good idea to take a lot of glutamine between meals and pre and post workout.

If you do cardio in the morning glutamine is good to take as it will be converted to glucose and help stave off catabolism and because it's the most abundant amino it is the amino acid most easily converted to glucose.

And remember free form Glutamine reacts differently than the glutamine in whole (bonded) proteins so be sure to use free form Glutamine as it quickly enters the bloodstream and doesn't require digestion to break it down.

Glutamine Supps

Dymatize Glutamine

VPX Glutamine

ON Glutamine

AST GL3 L-Glutamine

Labrada Glutamine

Myogenix Glutamine

Labrada GlutaLean






*Endergonic means absorbing energy in the form of work

(N)shape said:

If you do cardio in the morning glutamine is good to take as it will be converted to glucose and help stave off catabolism and because it's the most abundant amino it is the amino acid most easily converted to glucose.

And remember free form Glutamine reacts differently than the glutamine in whole (bonded) proteins so be sure to use free form Glutamine as it quickly enters the bloodstream and doesn't require digestion to break it down.

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Very good things to know. I was not aware of the free form glutamine.

There's my one thing of the day that I learned!! Great post!