Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in human muscle and plasma. Inadult humans, following an overnight fast, the normal plasma glutamine concentration is 550–750 mmol/L and the skeletal muscle glutamine concentration is 20 mmol/kg wet weight. Skeletal muscle is the major tissue involved in glutamine synthesis and is known to release glutamine into the circulation at 50 mmol/h in the fed state. Its alleged effects can be classified as anabolic and immunostimulatory. Glutamine is utilized at high rates by leukocytes (particularly lymphocytes) to provide energy and optimal conditions for nucleotide biosynthesis and hence, cell proliferation Athletes can have high intakes of L-glutamine because of their high energy and protein intakes and also because they consume protein supplements, protein hydrolysates, and free amino acids. Prolonged exercise and periods of heavy training are associated with a decrease in the plasma glutamine concentration and this has been suggested to be a potential cause of the exercise-induced immune impairment and increased susceptibility to infection in athletes.
Authors: Govind Shukla, Neha S.Giri, C.J. Sampath Kumar
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220511891