Description
L-Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the body. It is produced in muscle tissue and is normally available in sufficient quantities. However, in the event of illness, chronic intestinal complaints, surgery, chemotherapy or long-term stress, the plasma glutamine concentration decreases while the demand from the intestine, liver and immune system increases sharply. At that point, glutamine is conditionally essential and nutrition alone falls short.
The intestinal wall is the largest consumer of glutamine in the body. Enterocytes, the cells that line the intestinal wall, completely renew themselves every three to five days. Glutamine is their primary fuel and building material. In glutamine deficiency, the expression of tight junction proteins (claudine, occludin, SO-1) weakens, increasing intestinal permeability and leaking bacterial toxins into the bloodstream. Clinical studies show that glutamine supplementation in post-infectious intestinal complaints has been shown to improve barrier function.
For the immune system, glutamine is equally crucial: lymphocytes and macrophages quadruple their glutamine consumption upon activation. Glutamine is also the precursor of glutathione, the most powerful endogenous antioxidant, and thus indirectly supports liver detoxification. In cachexia due to cancer or chronic disease, glutamine limits muscle breakdown and protects the intestinal wall under the double burden of disease and treatment.
L-Glutamine is the centerpiece of phase 2 of the NGD Care Gut Protocol (weeks 8 to 16), combined with shilajit or Gut Barrier Support and Liposomal Vitamin B-Complex. Only when the gut is remediated through phase 1 can glutamine reach its full potential. Further relevant in the Giardia Protocol, Operation Recovery Package, Skin Protocol and in oncological support.
Want to learn more about the science behind L-Glutamine? Read the extensive background piece on the blog page.