Benefits of Glutamine

In times of physical stress, the human body may benefit from extra glutamine. There are also claims that supplementation with glutamine can help with depression, insomnia, and anxiety. Glutamine is also sometimes used in IV nutrition, especially for critically ill people. Some of these claimed benefits of glutamine may have some scientific evidence in their favor, while others have absolutely no scientific basis.

 

What Benefits Can Glutamine Provide?

Glutamine (sometimes known as L-glutamine) is an amino acid. Because the human body can produce glutamine on its own, glutamine is not essential for human nutrition (it is not an "essential" amino acid), although the body may benefit from extra glutamine in times of severe physical stress. Glutamine supplementation is often claimed to be beneficial for the following uses:
 
Glutamine is also used to help build muscle and enhance athletic performance. Medically, glutamine is sometimes used in IV nutrition, especially for critically ill people.
 
Some of these reported benefits of glutamine may have some scientific evidence in their favor, while others have absolutely no scientific basis (see Does Glutamine Work? for more information). As with many supplements, claims for the benefits of glutamine are sometimes exaggerated, and such claims must be evaluated critically.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;