Download Health Benefits of Glutamine

David Arthur, Pharmacist B.Pharm(Wits); ABAAHP Diplomate
(American Board of Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioners)
Director - Integrative Medical Centre
P.O.Box 782484,
Sandton, 2146, South Africa
Tel: (011) 463-0036 • Fax: (011) 463-9832 • E-mail: [email protected] or mail@lifecheck
www.lifecheck.co.za
Health Benefits of Glutamine
Cardiovascular System
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Glutamine may help to prevent Anemia: [more info]
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Glutamine may be useful for the treatment of Sickle-Cell Anemia.
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Glutamine may improve the function of the Heart in Ischemic Heart Disease patients:

Glutamine may improve the function of the Heart in Angina patients.
Digestive System: Ailments

Glutamine may help to repair damage to the Intestines in Celiac Disease patients.
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Glutamine may help to repair damage to the Intestines in Colitis patients and may improve survival times
for a deadly form of Colitis:

Glutamine (1,000 - 4,000 mg per day) may improve the condition of Crohn’s Disease patients (primarily
by supporting the Intestinal Mucosa).

Glutamine (18 grams (18,000 mg) per day for three days prior to the commencement of Chemotherapy)
may reduce the incidence of Gastrointestinal discomfort and Diarrhea in people undergoing
Chemotherapy. Glutamine may also shorten the duration of Diarrhea in children with acute Diarrhea.
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Glutamine may alleviate Gastritis.
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Glutamine may prevent and alleviate Intestinal Permeability (by functioning as a “fuel” for the Villi cells
of the Intestinal Wall, thereby helping to heal the damaged Intestinal Wall that is an underlying cause of
Intestinal Permeability).

Glutamine may help to repair damage to the Intestines in Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients.
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Glutamine may improve the condition of (acute) Pancreatitis patients.
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Glutamine (3,000 mg per day) may accelerate the healing of Peptic Ulcers:
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Glutamine (3,000 mg per day) may help to prevent and accelerate the healing of Gastric Ulcers
(especially Aspirin-induced Gastric Ulcers).

Glutamine (1,000 - 4,000 mg per day) may alleviate the Diarrhea, Ulcers, abdominal Pain, weight loss and
food Allergies associated with Ulcerative Colitis:

Glutamine may lower Lipopolysaccharides levels in Ulcerative Colitis patients.
Digestive System: Underlying Mechanisms

Glutamine may enhance the general health of the Digestive System. [more info]

Glutamine is essential for the health of the Gallbladder.
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Glutamine is an essential "fuel" for the Villi cells of the Intestinal Wall:

Glutamine may help to repair damage to the Villi cells of the Intestinal Wall.

Glutamine is a major source of Energy for the Intestines, may increase Blood Circulation in the Intestines
and may help to prevent fluid loss from the Intestines:

Glutamine is essential for the health of the Cells that line the Colon wall. Glutamine may increase Blood
Circulation to the Colon.

Glutamine may facilitate the growth of the tissues of the Jejunum.

Glutamine may increase Blood Circulation to the Small Intestine.

Glutamine may enhance the health and growth of the Pancreas. Glutamine increases Blood Circulation
to the Pancreas.

Glutamine may increase Blood Circulation to the Stomach:

Glutamine may stimulate the production of Parietal Cells in the Gastric Mucosa of the Stomach. [more
info]

Glutamine may counteract the damage to the Gastric Mucosa of the Stomach caused by Helicobacter
pylori (Glutamine facilitates the conversion of the (detrimental) Ammonia produced by Helicobacter
pylori to Urea).
Excretory System
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Glutamine is essential for the optimal health of the Kidneys.
Immune System: Ailments
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Glutamine may help to prevent Allergies (especially Food Allergies) by repairing the Intestinal Wall,
causing it to become less permeable to the various Antigens that cause Allergies.

Glutamine (5,000 - 10,000 mg per day) may help to prevent Bacterial & Viral Diseases (especially in
persons who experience Glutamine depletion as a result of excessive Exercise or Endurance Exercise):

Most Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients are found to be deficient in Glutamine.
Glutamine may help to counteract the Diarrhea, Intestinal Permeability and Cachexia experienced by
AIDS patients.

Glutamine may enhance the ability of Neutrophils (cells of the Immune System) to destroy Detrimental
Bacteria:

Glutamine may counteract the damage to the Gastric Mucosa of the Stomach caused by Helicobacter
pylori (Glutamine may facilitate the conversion of the (detrimental) Ammonia produced by Helicobacter
pylori to Urea.

Glutamine deficiency may increase the risk of Immunosuppressive Ailments. [more info]

Glutamine may reduce Inflammation.
Immune System: Cancer

Glutamine may help to prevent carcinogens-induced Breast Cancer.

Glutamine may help to minimize the damage caused by Chemotherapy in Cancer patients and may
improve the effectiveness of Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in the treatment of Cancer:

Glutamine may enhance the repair of Intestines damaged by Chemotherapy.

Glutamine (18 grams (18,000 mg)) per day for three days prior to the commencement of Chemotherapy)
may reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal discomfort and Diarrhea in people undergoing
Chemotherapy.

Glutamine may help to repair the damage that Chemotherapy causes to the Immune System (when
Glutamine is supplemented in chemotherapy subjects the infection rate drops to 3%, compared to 100%
without Glutamine).

When Glutamine is supplemented as an adjunct to Chemotherapy in the treatment of Cancer, tumors
decrease in size by 45% - compared to 25% when Glutamine is not supplemented. This indicates that
supplemental Glutamine may increase the susceptibility of Cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of
Chemotherapy.

Glutamine may increase the survival rate of Chemotherapy patients.

Glutamine may increase the susceptibility of Cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of Radiation Therapy.

Glutamine (up to 30 grams per day) may alleviate the Pain associated with Mouth Ulcers and may
accelerate the healing of open sores in the Mouth (oral mucositis or Mouth Ulcers) caused by
Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy.
Immune System: Underlying Mechanisms

Glutamine may improve the function of the Immune System:

Glutamine may minimize the loss of Immune System function that occurs as a side effect from Burns.

Glutamine (5,000 - 10,000 mg per day) may counteract the suppression of the Immune System that
occurs in people who engage in Endurance Exercise.

Glutamine may stimulate the growth of Lymphocytes and may serve as a fuel source for Lymphocytes:

Glutamine may enhance the function of NK Lymphocytes.

Glutamine may enhance the defense response of T-Lymphocytes.

Glutamine serves as a fuel source for Macrophages.

Glutamine may enhance the ability of Monocytes to function as Phagocytes.

Glutamine may enhance the ability of Neutrophils to destroy Antigens and to destroy Detrimental
Bacteria.

Glutamine may stimulate the growth of Phagocytes.
Metabolism

Glutamine may reduce the craving (Appetite) for Carbohydrates (i.e. it may reduce Carbohydrate
Cravings).
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Glutamine may reduce elevated Blood Sugar (by up to 50%).

Glutamine may help to prevent and treat Cachexia (muscle wasting syndrome):

Glutamine may help to prevent and treat the Cachexia that commonly occurs in AIDS patients.

Glutamine may improve the health of people who regularly engage in strenuous Exercise:

Glutamine may counteract the Acidosis (Lactic Acidosis resulting from Lactic Acid production) that often
occurs as a result of strenuous Exercise.

Glutamine may prevent the breakdown of Proteins within the Muscles (i.e. it can prevent catabolism and
Muscle loss) during and after intensive Exercise.

When excessive quantities of Lactic Acid are produced as a result of strenuous Exercise (resulting in
Lactic Acidosis), Glutamine is catabolized from the Muscles and transferred to the bloodstream where it
is utilized in the detoxification of Lactic Acid - supplemental Glutamine may therefore "spare" the body's
existing Glutamine reserves in the Muscles.

Intensive Exercise causes the depletion of Glutamine from the Muscles, Liver and Blood Plasma.

Glutamine may counteracts the suppression of the Immune System that occurs in people who undertake
Endurance Exercise.

Glutamine may minimize the Muscle Pain that occurs after strenuous Exercise.
Glutamine may alleviate Fatigue.

Glutamine may alleviate Hypoglycemia. [more info]

Glutamine may enhance the health of the Liver.

Glutamine may stimulate the regeneration of the Liver.

Glutamine may protect the Liver from Alcohol-induced toxicity.

Glutamine functions as a Nitrogen shuttle - it “picks up and drops off” Nitrogen around the body.

Glutamine may help to reduce body weight in persons afflicted with Obesity (by approximately 10%).

Glutamine may reduce cravings for Simple Sugars. [more info]
Musculoskeletal System

Glutamine may stimulate the synthesis of endogenous Proteins within the Muscles, thereby facilitating
Muscle Growth (i.e. it is anabolic). Glutamine may also prevent the breakdown of Proteins within the
Muscles (i.e. it may prevent catabolism) during intensive Exercise. It may also improve Muscle Growth
by increasing Muscle cell volumization (increasing the retention of Water within Muscle Fibers).

Glutamine may minimize the Muscle Pain that occurs after strenuous Exercise.

Glutamine concentrates in the Muscles (it comprises 10.4 mg per 100 grams of total Muscle weight and
comprises 50% of the total free Amino Acid content of Muscles).

Glutamine may prevent Muscular Atrophy (wasting of the tissues of the Muscles).
Nervous System

Glutamine may alleviate Aggressiveness (however studies that have demonstrated this property of
Glutamine have involved the use of very high doses (40 grams per day)). [more info]
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Glutamine may increase Alertness. [more info]

Glutamine may improve Mental Function in Alzheimer's Disease patients and Alzheimer’s Disease
patients have been demonstrated to have low Brain levels of Glutamine.

Glutamine (250 - 1,000 mg per day) may improve the condition of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) patients.

Glutamine is a valuable adjunct to the treatment of Autism.

Glutamine converts to Glutamic Acid within the Brain in order to provide Energy to the Brain.

Glutamine concentrates in the Cerebral Cortex.

Glutamine is the most abundant Amino Acid present in the Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Glutamine may improve Concentration. [more info]
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Glutamine (250 - 1,000 mg per day) may improve Mood in Depression patients.
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Glutamine may increase Intelligence.
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Glutamine may increase Learning ability.
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Glutamine may improve Memory.

Glutamine may alleviate Mental Retardation - supplemental Glutamine has increased the IQ of
intellectually impaired children.

Glutamine may improve Mood.

Glutamine may reduce the sensation of Pain.

Glutamine may improve the recovery from Stroke.
Oral Health

Glutamine (up to 30 grams per day) may alleviate the Pain of and accelerate the healing of open sores in
the Mouth (oral mucositis or Mouth Ulcers) caused by Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy.
Respiratory System

Glutamine may indirectly accelerate the recovery from severe Pneumonia.
Sexual System

Glutamine may alleviate some cases of Male Impotence. [more info]

The concentration of Glutamine is 58% lower in Burns patients than in non-burned humans and this low
Glutamine concentration may contribute to the immunosuppression experienced by Burns patients.

Glutamine may stimulate the proliferation of Fibroblasts.

Glutamine may facilitate the excretion of waste products from the Skin. [more info]

Glutamine may accelerate the healing of Wounds (due to its role in the stimulation of Fibroblasts).
Skin
Surgery

Glutamine is one of the most important nutrients of all to supply to people before and after they have
undergone Surgery. [more info]