Glutamine, an amino acid, is a favorite muscle-building supplement used by athletes. Although all amino acids are important protein building blocks glutamine holds the position as the most abundant amino acid in the body and the most concentrated in the muscles. Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid because even though the body produces glutamine there are times when the need is greater than what can be produced by the body alone.
What can glutamine do?
*It leads to greater muscle mass through protein integration.
*It increases the retention of nitrogen.
*It decreases the breakdown of muscle.
*It decreases recovery time.
*It enhances the immune system.
How does glutamine work?
Athletes supplement with glutamine because it is essential in building muscle; however, the muscle is stripped of glutamine during a workout. Without glutamine the muscles lose nitrogen, begin to break down, and increases recovery time.
Glutamine is also needed by the immune system and other body functions. These take precedence over building muscle. Supplementing the body with glutamine before a workout helps the body to retain enough glutamine to support the other body functions that depend on it and keeps enough glutamine in the muscles to build lean muscle mass.
Doctors have used glutamine in emergency room situations. If the patient has been in a trauma accident glutamine is pulled from the muscles to be used in other more important areas of the body. Doctors use a high dosage of glutamine to prevent muscle breakdown.
Glutamine is not only great for athletes who want to build lean muscle but non-athletes who are experiencing stressful situations or who are trying to avoid cold or flu will find glutamine effective as an effective support of the immune system. It is essential as a protein building block with no known side effects when taken as directed.
