Glutamine – the essential bodybuilding muscle builder for training and weight loss

On any list of the top bodybuilding muscle supplements and you’ll see glutamine at or near the top. Unlike most over-the-counter supplements glutamine has some good scientific evidence behind it and ranks right up there with creatine, protein, and steroid alternatives, for weight loss and as a muscle builder.

Glutamine – when non-essential become essential

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in muscle cells. Biochemists refer to glutamine as a “conditionally essential” amino acid. Amino acids that can be manufactured by the body from other amino acids are called nonessential amino acids, while those that cannot be made by the body and need to be consumed in the diet are called essential. Glutamine has characteristics of both essential and nonessential. While the body can synthesize it, there are times when demands outstrip supplies. For example as the amino acid plays a major role in the proper functioning of the immunity system, glutamine levels may be insufficient in times of infection. Glutamine levels may also be inadequate during periods of hard training and when following a low-calorie diet.

Nitrogen power!

For individuals engaged in bodybuilding muscle, glutamine’s primary benefit is its role in modulating nitrogen levels. Positive nitrogen balance occurs when the total amount of nitrogen excreted in normal bodily functions (i.e. the urine, feces and sweat) is less than the total nitrogen consumed in the diet. Positive nitrogen balance is vital for new muscle tissue to be synthesized. It also plays a vital role in weight loss. When protein intake is inadequate to maintain tissue nitrogen balance, negative nitrogen balance is said to occur and new muscle tissue is unable to be created. When the body is in a state of positive nitrogen balance, protein intake is sufficient to maintain muscle tissue needs and the amounts of nitrogen entering and exiting the body are equal. It’s this second state that hard training bodybuilders strive for. Glutamine has been shown to keep the body in positive nitrogen balance, thus maximizing the body’s muscle building and weight loss potential.

Glutamine has many positive bodybuilding muscle effects and can perform the following:

Fight the catabolic effects of the hormone cortisol

Contributes to muscle cell volumizing (swelling due to water retention)

Serves as a precursor to many immunity system cells

Modulates protein synthesis

Accelerates glycogen synthesis after a workout

Helps one recover faster from weight training workouts.

How To Use It

Because of its anti-catabolic, bodybuilding muscle properties - and its ability to accelerate glycogen synthesis after a workout - glutamine should be taken in the first 60-minutes after training (this maximizes the amino acid’s muscle building and weight loss potential). On your rest days, take glutamine with your final protein shake. There is some debate amongst experts concerning dosage. Start out by being conservative - 3-5 grams is probably a sufficient enough beginning dosage. Then as your system adapts, you can increase it to as much as 10-15 grams.

Side Effects

As with creatine, some users may experience slight stomach discomfort during the first week of taking glutamine. Other than this, the medical literature has not reported any other side effects.

Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and steroids. Are you looking for more of his bodybuilding articles? http://www.bodybuildinginformation.com Article © Bob Howard 5/5/2006

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