Glutamine for Digestive Health & Leaky Gut

A recent scientific workshop on amino acids focused on the vital need for adequate glutamine¹.  Of particular importance is the effect glutamine has on rapidly dividing cells – it boosts up their cell volume and antioxidant status, and provides nutrition required for the synthesis of new RNA and DNA so that cells can multiply.  This is vital for maintaining a healthy lining within your digestive tract as cell turnover is daily, and a dramatic increased need occurs when there is digestive inflammation.  The “leaky gut” occurs when your body can’t keep up the needed rate of making new digestive structure cells, of which glutamine is the primary amino acid Building blocks of peptides and protein and have multiple roles of function in life including muscle function, growth, detoxification and metabolic pathways, and neurotransmitter function..

Glutamine is also vital to the health of your muscles, and muscle glutamine will be sent to your digestive tract (while weakening your muscles) so that digestive health can be maintained.  Likewise, muscles can be broken down and the glutamine used to bolster your immune system.  In some ways, many parts of your body view glutamine in muscles as an important savings account for other health needs. 

A situation of ongoing digestive issues combined with muscle fatigue indicates a high likelihood that extra supplemental glutamine would be of value.  Additionally, the failure to get enough glutamine puts you at risk for poor immunity, poor glucose metabolism, premature cell death, and poor cellular stress tolerance.

Of course, glutamine supplementation is of extreme value for acute trauma² or those in weakened health situations.

Researchers believe that up to 30 grams of glutamine may be needed in times of very high stress, so as to keep glutamine levels in optimal condition.  I find that for most people with ongoing digestive issues doses of 6 – 9 grams per day can really help turn a problem around.  Our glutamine containing GI and Muscle Helper can be mixed in water or with any other powder supplement (such as Daily Protein, GI Soother, and/or Immune Plus).