How to heal your gut through glutamine supplementation

‍All diseases begin in the gut!

‍That’s because about 70% of your immune system resides there. When the gut becomes unhealthy — meaning leaky — warning signs start to appear, such as migraines, overweight/obesity, bloating, anxiety, and more, all indicating that something isn’t right.

In addition to supporting yourself through proper nutrition and personalized Immunonutrition tools, this article will discuss L-glutamine, one of the main nutritional supplements that can help you restore your gut health and strengthen your immune system.

Everything You Should Know About L-Glutamine

L-glutamine is an amino acid — a basic building block of protein — that your muscles and cells need to function. One of its most important roles is its ability to support leaky gut repair.

A recent article explained that glutamine is one of the most abundant amino acids in the blood and cells, and it serves as a preferred energy source for the cells of the small intestine and other immune cells. Today, L-glutamine supplements are increasingly popular and are available in capsule form or as a water-soluble powder.

Other Benefits of L-Glutamine

1. Strengthens the immune system

‍Recent studies suggest that glutamine can play an important role in supporting a more powerful and efficient immune system. A review of the scientific literature on glutamine found that supplementation reduced hospital-acquired infection rates, hospital stays, and mortality rates among hospitalized patients.

2. Reduces fatty liver disease

‍Fatty liver disease is very common today, largely due to lifestyle factors and modern dietary patterns. Data from a recent study showed that taking a glutamine supplement helped protect against the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and could help prevent the development of fatty liver disease.

Side Effects to Consider

In general, L-glutamine is well-tolerated and safe. However, some studies using specific glutamine formulations reported rare adverse effects, including swelling of the extremities, gastrointestinal symptoms (such as constipation), headache, fever, and infections.

Regarding interactions, there is some suggestion that glutamine may reduce the ammonia-lowering effect of lactulose, so for individuals with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy, this supplement may not be the best option. Additionally, glutamine may increase tumor retention of methotrexate, potentially enhancing its effectiveness as a therapy — but this should only be done under the supervision of a qualified cancer specialist.

Before Supplementing

While there is solid evidence supporting the use of L-glutamine in many different situations, the best approach is to schedule an Online Consultation with NutriWhite before using this or any other supplement.
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References:

1. Kim, M. H., & Kim, H. (2017). The roles of glutamine in the intestine and its implication in intestinal diseases. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(5), 1051.
2. Liu, Y. H., Guo, P. F., Chen, G. Y., Bo, Y. C., Ma, Y., & Cui, Z. J. (2018). Advances in the research of effects of glutamine on immune function of burn patients. Zhonghua shao shang za zhi= Zhonghua shaoshang zazhi= Chinese journal of burns, 34(4), 249-253.
3. Vanek, V. W., Matarese, L. E., Robinson, M., Sacks, G. S., Young, L. S., Kochevar, M., & Novel Nutrient Task Force, Parenteral Glutamine Workgroup and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Board of Directors. (2011). ASPEN