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The Ultimate Nutrient, Glutamine, the book I wrote more than ten years ago along with Nancy Ehrlich, predicted the power of a very special nutrient, glutamine, for a variety of health outcomes in humans.  When my book was written, basic science studies suggested that glutamine could be used for improving various health conditions.  However, only a few human studies on the use of glutamine had been completed.  But what a difference a few years make!  Even I am surprised at the hundreds of research papers that have subsequently been written that document the positive impacts glutamine provides to improve human health.  This column will explore all of the current information on the amino acid glutamine.

Review of Glutamine
Let’s start with a brief review of glutamine.  All body protein is made up of amino acids and glutamine is the most plentiful free amino acid in the body.  Its unique structure and ready availability makes it a vital nutrient for optimal functioning of all organs and organ systems in the body.  Glutamine works by providing extra carbon and nitrogen to organs in need.

The specific systems that depend on glutamine include the:

• Blood system including the immune cells and the red blood cells
• Digestive system including the intestines
• Liver
• Kidney
• Brain
• Musculoskeletal
• Endocrine glands

Production and Decline of Glutamine in the Body
Although all cells have the potential to make glutamine, it is made primarily in skeletal muscle, followed by the lungs and brain.  With most illnesses and under conditions of stress, such as over-training in athletes, glutamine levels in the blood decrease.  This decline could be due to an increase in the need for glutamine by organs or it could be that skeletal muscle cannot manufacture it rapidly enough to fulfill the demand.  Whatever the reason, there is a deficiency of glutamine in the body and that is the reason for supplementation with glutamine.

Below is a partial list of health conditions or illnesses where glutamine supplementation has been shown to have benefit:

• Reduced side effects of chemotherapy including lessening of nerve damage to the hands and feet and decreases of mouth sores and diarrhea
• Improved regulation of the immune system
• Decreased infection rates
• Restored muscle mass
• Improved outcome following surgery, including fewer infections and deaths
• Prevented HIV wasting
• Reduced diarrhea
• Increased nutrient absorption with short bowel
• Enhanced recovery following athletic over-training
• Improved blood sugar control in critically ill patients

Recent studies also suggest that glutamine may be useful for people who have heart conditions and individuals who are overweight.  In follow up issues of this column, I will discuss all of these topics in more detail.