L-Glutamine is one of three amino acids that make up the structure of glutathione, a tri-peptide that is composed of cysteine, glycine and glutamine. L-Glutathione, which is described elsewhere in this database, is one of the most important antioxidants in nature.
Glutamine, but not glutamic acid, can pass through the blood-brain barrier. If the knowledge concerning this amino acid was spread and its biochemical function was understood, this amino acid might be able to revolutionize the treatment of a large number of disorders.
Intensive research since the 1950's has established it’s irrefutable in caring for nervous system problems. Such problems include, stress and oxygen deficit, and some forms of injury.
It is useful for depression, stomach ulcers, many kidney sufferings; it protects against the effects of alcohol, and it can reduce the craving for alcohol, drugs, and sugar.
Also it has successfully been used in the treatment of schizophrenic and senile people. Along with other nutrients, it is valuable in the treatment of behavioural problems in young people as well as elderly ones. The substance also removes ammonium from the brain.
Glutamine can be used for certain types of impotence. The amino acid easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier and is then transformed into glutamic acid which is a fuel for the cerebral activity. When ammonium is neutralized the acid is once again transformed into glutamine, and the process continues.
It can also be transformed into GABA - see the chapter on this - which among other things has a calming effect on the central nervous system. It alleviates symptoms of inflammation and enhances the memory.
Glutamine is a rich source of energy for the cells of the body and also for some kinds of cancer cells. A reduced intake of glutamine along with an enzyme treatment which breaks down the glutamine in the tissue has therefore been used in the treatment of cancer. However, the glutamine deficiency which then occurs in other parts of the body can cause severe side effects.
The effect of glutamine on cancer patients is not certain. Contradictory reports have seen the light of day, and some scientists and therapists recommend glutamine supplements to their cancer patients, not least when their patients are going through chemotherapy. These groups also maintain this is not the only advantage of taking glutamine. If given in the period before chemotherapy treatment is begun, the latter treatment might give much better results than expected. This has been verified by tests performed on experimental animals and also in the treatment of patients. The same pattern has been observed in connection with radiation treatment.
The immune response in animals and patients receiving treatment has also been more effective; in fact, patients had a much lower tendency to get subsequent infections and present a much higher concentration of glutathione in the tissue.
In connection with this, one should remember that glutamine is one of the three amino acids which- along with cysteine and glycine - is part of the formation of the glutathione molecule. And even though the amount of cysteine in the body that normally is the decisive factor in the production of glutathione, it may very well be that the changed biochemical conditions in the cancer patient's body can lead to a glutamine deficiency that reduces the very vital synthesis of glutathione.
The central question in this entire complex of problems will of course end up being: Does the glutamine supplement promote the growth of cancer cells? And then: Does it do more harm than good in the attempt to fight the disease?
Scientists have set out to clarify this problem. Some animal tests have shown that glutamine supplements actually did not induce the growth of cancer. Animals which had been treated with glutamine showed a better response to the treatment, an improved immune response, a dramatically lowered rate of infections, and a greater chance of surviving.
The so-called modern life style has inflicted many illnesses upon civilized people; illnesses that used to be rare or even unknown. The many types of allergies belong to this group of illnesses as well as digestive illnesses such as inflammation of the intestines, chronic diarrhoea or constipation, food intolerance, and fungal attacks. These conditions are clearly related.
Some substances in our industrially prepared food and drink affect the mucous membranes in our digestive system; altering their immune system and their built-in ability to fight off infections and fungal attacks as well as their ability to repair minor injuries, wounds, wear and tear.
The digestive system is built to overcome a heavy load, but we fill our bodies with the worst of things; including everything from overly sweet or overly sour foods, alcohol, toxics, stimulants, and basically anything that the body should never be exposed to (such as preservatives, colouring agents, and much more).
The intestines are naturally well equipped with a repair alert which is the body's fastest, a production of cells which can outflank everything else, and a supply of energy that goes into overdrive. This is fuelled with pure glutamine - the high octane petrol of the cells!
Still, it can become too much, even for this highly effective system. When disease, stress, and poisoning enter the picture, the system is very quickly broken down. The energy supply fails, the mucous membranes are worn down, wounds and inflammations arise, and bacteria and fungi accumulate and infect the sick intestinal wall.
Under an infection, some of the poisonous spores and bacteria obtain access to the other side of the intestinal wall and enter the body's blood- and lymphatic systems. From here these foreign bodies around the body while alarming the immune response.
The immune response then reacts to a large number of substances that are regarded as hostile, but it sometimes overreacts and reacts against non harmful substances as well. This overreaction is an allergic reaction.
The repeated and hopeless observation that both therapists and patients come to share is that once you have acquired some food allergies more are likely to come.
One substance which can stop this cycle and heal the intestines is glutamine which is the natural octane energy of the intestinal system. Glutamine supplements activate both the production of cells in the mucous membranes and its immune response, heal the intestines, and regenerate its natural functions.
For this reason, glutamine has been used successfully for inflammation of the intestines. In clinically controlled studies, as much as 40 g. of glutamine have been given, spread out in small doses with short intervals.
It was one of Roger L. Williams's colleagues, Professor William Shive who, in the 1950's, found an anti-alcohol factor in liver, cabbage, and a number of other foods. This factor was the amino acid glutamine. During the work in the laboratory with some microbes, he noted that these were not harmed by alcohol when a certain amount of glutamine was added at the same time.
Further research revealed that glutamine in general neutralized the poisonous effects of alcohol, and that this ability to counteract alcohol poisoning could unfold itself in many different biochemical environments. In the human body, glutamine works e.g. as a carrying substance that carries the toxic decomposition products of alcohol out through the blood/brain barrier by means of a kind of pendulum traffic.
Moreover, glutamine has a regulating effect on the blood sugar level and works as an energy source for the brain. It can also ease neutralize withdrawal symptoms.
Therapeutic dosage
2-8 g. a day (in capsules) divided up into doses - with water, between meals.
Caution!
In case of kidney- or liver conditions, glutamine supplements should only be given at very slow escalation under constant clinical observation. Large doses should be taken with plenty of water in order to avoid constipation.
