Axe and Sledge Glutamine
PROMOTE RECOVERY, GUT HEALTH, AND IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTION WITH GLUTAMINE
SUPPLEMENTING WITH GLUTAMINE MAY:
- IMPROVE RECOVERY
- PROMOTE GUT HEALTH
- SUPPORT IMMUNE FUNCTION
Description
GLUTAMINE IS TECHNICALLY CLASSIFIED AS A NON-ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID SINCE THE BODY CAN PRODUCE IT ENDOGENOUSLY. GLUTAMINE IS ALSO FOUND IN VARIOUS PROTEIN-RICH FOODS, SUCH AS DAIRY, MEAT, TOFU, POULTRY, AND FISH.
HOWEVER, MANY WOULD ARGUE THAT GLUTAMINE IS AT LEAST CONDITIONALLY ESSENTIAL SINCE THERE ARE SPECIFIC TIMES WHEN THE BODY COULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING MORE THAN IT CAN SYNTHESIZE ON ITS OWN, SUCH AS ILLNESS, INJURY, OR EXTREME STRESS (I.E. INTENSE EXERCISE & DIETING). FURTHERMORE, GLUTAMINE IS ONE OF THE MOST ABUNDANT AMINO ACIDS IN THE BODY AND IS INVOLVED IN A LOT MORE THAN JUST MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS.
GLUTAMINE PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN YOUR IMMUNE, GASTROINTESTINAL, AND MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEMS. IN FACT, SUPPLEMENTING WITH GLUTAMINE MAY BE EVEN MORE BENEFICIAL FOR IMMUNE FUNCTION AND GUT HEALTH THAN ENHANCING MUSCLE RECOVERY. SOME EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT GLUTAMINE UTILIZATION OF IMMUNE AND GASTROINTESTINAL CELLS IS HIGHER THAN GLUCOSE. THIS INDICATES THAT GLUTAMINE IS THE PREFERRED FUEL SOURCE FOR THESE CELLS, WHICH IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER SYSTEM IN THE BODY. THE MAJORITY OF OTHER CELLS PRIMARILY USE GLUCOSE AS OPPOSED TO GLUTAMINE.
GLUTAMINE IS CONSIDERED TO BE ESSENTIAL FOR A NUMBER OF IMMUNE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION, CYTOKINE PRODUCTION, NEUTROPHIL ACTIVITY, AND MACROPHAGES PHAGOCYTOSIS. ALL OF THESE FUNCTIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING FOREIGN PATHOGENS, WHICH HELP PREVENT ILLNESS. THEREFORE, INDIVIDUALS WITH SUPPRESSED IMMUNE SYSTEMS WOULD LIKELY BENEFIT THE MOST FROM GLUTAMINE SUPPLEMENTATION.
IN TERMS OF GUT HEALTH, GLUTAMINE IS ALSO A PRIMARY FUEL SOURCE FOR SEVERAL CELLS THAT RESIDE IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL LINING. GLUTAMINE IS NECESSARY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF GUT VILLI, WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INHIBITING BACTERIA FROM ENTERING THE BODY. MOREOVER, GLUTAMINE IS INVOLVED IN ENTEROCYTE PROLIFERATION, REGULATION OF TIGHT JUNCTION PROTEINS, SUPPRESSION OF PRO-INFLAMMATORY SIGNALING PATHWAYS, AND IS A POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT THAT PROTECTS HEALTHY CELLS FROM OXIDATIVE STRESS.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, CONSUMING EXTRA GLUTAMINE OFFERS SEVERAL HEALTH BENEFITS, BUT WHAT ABOUT MUSCLE RECOVERY?
A FEW STUDIES SHOW THAT SUPPLEMENTING WITH GLUTAMINE AROUND EXERCISE CAN DECREASE MUSCLE SORENESS AND IMPROVE STRENGTH RECOVERY. HOWEVER, A LARGE PROPORTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL GLUTAMINE IS USED BY THE GASTROINTESTINAL AND IMMUNE SYSTEMS, SO NOT MUCH IS LEFT FOR THE SKELETAL MUSCLES. NONETHELESS, A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING IMMUNE AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE.
