A stomach virus can cause flu-like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, weakness, fever, chills and abdominal pain. According to MedlinePlus, viral gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, is the second most common illness in the United States. Consuming glutamine is sometimes beneficial during times of illness. However, increasing your glutamine consumption likely won’t relieve symptoms associated with a stomach virus.
Background
Glutamine is an amino acid, which is a compound used to form proteins in your body. Some amino acids are considered essential because your body cannot make them, unlike nonessential amino acids. According to MedlinePlus, glutamine is considered a conditional amino acid because it’s only essential during times of illness or stress. Your body can make glutamine, but when your body is stressed it may require more glutamine than your body can make.
Glutamine Sources
You can consume glutamine from foods or dietary supplements. Glutamine is commonly available in the form of L-glutamine in powder, liquid, tablet or capsule form. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, food sources of glutamine include meat, dairy products, spinach and cabbage.
Benefits
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, consuming glutamine when your body is stressed can help strengthen your immune system and reduce infections. Common stressors that can increase your body’s need for glutamine include injury, illness, surgery, trauma and burns. If your body is under stress due to a severe case of the stomach flu, taking glutamine may help during your recovery. Since glutamine can help strengthen your immune system, consuming glutamine may play a role in illness prevention.
Drawbacks
If you’re experiencing symptoms of a stomach virus such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, you likely won’t be able to consume glutamine-rich foods such as meat, dairy products, leafy green vegetables, glutamine powders or liquid glutamine drinks. Bland foods such as broth, crackers, bananas, Gatorade, juices, toast and clear sodas are usually recommended when you are experiencing nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
Bottom Line
Although consuming glutamine from foods or supplements can help keep you healthy, recover from illnesses and in some cases prevent you from getting sick, it can also worsen symptoms of a stomach virus. Always talk with your health care provider before taking any form of dietary supplements, including glutamine supplements, to make sure they are safe for you.
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