Glutamine is the most abundant free-form amino acid in muscle, comprising over 50% of the free amino acids. During and after intense training, large amounts of glutamine are released from muscle. The deficit created by this triggers the conversion of other amino acids into glutamine, which is a catabolic (muscle wasting) action. Oral supplementation of L-Glutamine helps to prevent muscle wastage caused by this natural recovery process.

Glutamine has become increasingly prominent as new studies reveal its unique contribution to protein synthesis, muscle growth, anti-catabolic (preventing muscle tissue breakdown) and growth hormone elevating effects.

Glutamine is the most abundant single amino acid in the blood and in the intracellular free amino acid pool (most abundant amino acid in muscle tissue). It comprises almost two-thirds of the amino acid pool in skeletal muscle cell. In fact, Glutamine alone is responsible for over one-third of the nitrogen that penetrates muscle cells. Glutamine literally drives muscle-building nitrogen into the muscle cell where it is synthesised for growth.

Glutamine concentrations fall remarkably after training within as little as 30 minutes, and remain low until complete recovery, up to as long as 5 – 7 days, resulting in decreases in strength, stamina and recovery. It is therefore critical for maintaining and building muscle tissue. The higher the muscle glutamine levels you can maintain, the less chance you have of falling into catabolism and the faster muscle will recover and grow.