L-glutamine is an amino acid naturally found in many protein-containing foods. It is also available as a food supplement and is taken by strength and endurance athletes to support muscle growth and to aid post-workout recovery. In your body, glutamine serves various functions, including protein synthesis, nitrogen and carbon atom transfer, transport of ammonia and energy production. It is also used in the hospital setting, especially in trauma and burn patients, to speed up healing. The cells of intestines use a major portion of the glutamine you consume, and supplementing with this amino acid may aid your intestinal function.
Intestinal Alimentation
A study published in the February 2011 issue of the “World Journal of Gastroenterology” investigated the effects of glutamine depletion in mice and rats. The study found that glutamine depletion in newborn mice resulted in damage of the large intestine and colonic hemorrhage. In addition, intestinal cell growth in this group was inhibited. The same results were obtained when rodent intestinal cells were cultured without glutamine. It is evident that glutamine is an important alimentary substance for the intestinal cells and that glutamine deprivation can result in intestinal damage.
Gut Bacteria
You gut is normally inhibited by beneficial bacteria, but it can also become colonized by harmful ones, such as E. coli. The January 2009 issue of “The Journal of Trauma” carried a study investigating the effects of glutamine, fiber and oligosaccharide supplementation on harmful bacterial growth in the intestines of mice. It was found that compared to the control group, supplemented mice exhibited less proliferation of harmful bacteria from one part of the intestine to the rest.
Intestinal Integrity
Intestinal permeability is increased in critically ill patients. This results in an increased susceptibility to infections, which can be life-threatening. Studies have shown that administration of glutamine orally or intravenously in these patients can reduce the extent of the increase in intestinal permeability. Other studies demonstrated that glutamine supplementation can decrease the frequency of infections, reported the May 2005 issue of “Critically Ill Patients.” This study concluded that the two are related, and it is the protection of the intestinal integrity by glutamine that accounts for the decrease in infections.
Intestinal Protein Metabolism
Supplementation with glutamine, carbohydrates and antioxidants supports gut protein metabolism in healthy humans, reported the November 2008 issue of “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.” These three nutrients are crucial for proper gut function, and the effect observed will probably be of even larger magnitude in stressed subjects and patients with compromised gut function.
References
- “World Journal of Gastroenterology”; Glutamine Depletion Induces Murine Neonatal Melena with Increased Apoptosis of the Intestinal Epithelium; Takayuki Motoki, et al.; February 2011
- “The Journal of Trauma”; Enteral Supplementation Enriched with Glutamine, Fiber, and Oligosaccharide Prevents Gut Translocation in a Bacterial Overgrowth Model; Hikohiro Azuma, et al.; January 2009
- “Critical Care Medicine”; Intestinal Permeability and Systemic Infections in Critically Ill Patients: Effect of Glutamine; Daurea De-Souza, et al.; May 2005
- “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”; Combined Enteral Infusion of Glutamine, Carbohydrates, and Antioxidants Modulates Gut Protein Metabolism in Humans; Moise Coeffier, et al.; November 2008
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