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Glutamine
 
 
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Glutamine (abbreviated as Gln or Q; the abbreviation Glx or Z represents either glutamine or glutamic acid
Glutamic acid

Glutamic acid is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids and its codons are GAA and GAG. It is a non-essential amino acid. The carboxylate anions and salt of glutamic acid are known as glutamates....
) is one of the 20 amino acid
Amino acid

In chemistry, an amino acid is a molecule containing both amine and carboxyl functional groups. These molecules are particularly important in biochemistry, where this term refers to alpha-amino acids with the general formula H2NCHRCOOH, where R is an organic substituent....
s encoded by the standard genetic code
Genetic code

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is Translation into proteins by living cell s. The code defines a mapping between tri-nucleotide sequences, called codons, and amino acids....
. Its side chain
Side chain

A side chain in organic chemistry and biochemistry is a part of a molecule that is attached to a core structure. The placeholder R is often used as a generic placeholder for side chains, the R historically being derived from radical or rest....
 is an amide
Amide

In chemistry, an amide is one of three kinds of compounds:* the organic chemistry functional group characterized by a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom , or a compound that contains this functional group ; or...
 formed by replacing the side-chain hydroxyl
Hydroxyl

Hydroxyl in chemistry stands for a molecule consisting of an oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom connected by a covalent bond. The neutral form is a hydroxyl Radical and the hydroxyl anion is called a hydroxide....
 of glutamic acid with an amine
Amine

Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a base nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivative s of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by organic substituents such as alkyl and aryl groups....
 functional group
Functional group

In organic chemistry, functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules....
. It can therefore be considered the amide of glutamic acid. Its codons
Genetic code

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is Translation into proteins by living cell s. The code defines a mapping between tri-nucleotide sequences, called codons, and amino acids....
 are CAA and CAG. Recent studies have proven its effectiveness in anabolic muscle growth from prolonged consumption.

amine is the most abundant naturally occurring, non-essential amino acid
Essential amino acid

File:BakedFish.jpgAn essential amino acid or indispensable amino acid is an amino acid that cannot be synthesized de novo synthesis by the organism , and therefore must be supplied in the diet....
 in the human body and one of the only amino acids which directly crosses the blood-brain barrier
Blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier is a metabolic or cellular structure in the central nervous system that restricts the passage of various chemical substances and microscopic objects between the bloodstream and the neural tissue itself, while still allowing the passage of substances essential to metabolism function ....
.






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Glutamine (abbreviated as Gln or Q; the abbreviation Glx or Z represents either glutamine or glutamic acid
Glutamic acid

Glutamic acid is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids and its codons are GAA and GAG. It is a non-essential amino acid. The carboxylate anions and salt of glutamic acid are known as glutamates....
) is one of the 20 amino acid
Amino acid

In chemistry, an amino acid is a molecule containing both amine and carboxyl functional groups. These molecules are particularly important in biochemistry, where this term refers to alpha-amino acids with the general formula H2NCHRCOOH, where R is an organic substituent....
s encoded by the standard genetic code
Genetic code

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is Translation into proteins by living cell s. The code defines a mapping between tri-nucleotide sequences, called codons, and amino acids....
. Its side chain
Side chain

A side chain in organic chemistry and biochemistry is a part of a molecule that is attached to a core structure. The placeholder R is often used as a generic placeholder for side chains, the R historically being derived from radical or rest....
 is an amide
Amide

In chemistry, an amide is one of three kinds of compounds:* the organic chemistry functional group characterized by a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom , or a compound that contains this functional group ; or...
 formed by replacing the side-chain hydroxyl
Hydroxyl

Hydroxyl in chemistry stands for a molecule consisting of an oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom connected by a covalent bond. The neutral form is a hydroxyl Radical and the hydroxyl anion is called a hydroxide....
 of glutamic acid with an amine
Amine

Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a base nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivative s of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by organic substituents such as alkyl and aryl groups....
 functional group
Functional group

In organic chemistry, functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules....
. It can therefore be considered the amide of glutamic acid. Its codons
Genetic code

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is Translation into proteins by living cell s. The code defines a mapping between tri-nucleotide sequences, called codons, and amino acids....
 are CAA and CAG. Recent studies have proven its effectiveness in anabolic muscle growth from prolonged consumption.

Nutrition


Occurrences in nature

Glutamine is the most abundant naturally occurring, non-essential amino acid
Essential amino acid

File:BakedFish.jpgAn essential amino acid or indispensable amino acid is an amino acid that cannot be synthesized de novo synthesis by the organism , and therefore must be supplied in the diet....
 in the human body and one of the only amino acids which directly crosses the blood-brain barrier
Blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier is a metabolic or cellular structure in the central nervous system that restricts the passage of various chemical substances and microscopic objects between the bloodstream and the neural tissue itself, while still allowing the passage of substances essential to metabolism function ....
. In the body it is found circulating in the blood as well as stored in the skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle

They generally contract voluntarily , although they can contract involuntarily through Reflex action. The whole muscle is wrapped in a special type of connective tissue, epimysium....
s. It becomes conditionally essential (requiring intake from food or supplements) in states of illness or injury.

Dietary sources
Dietary sources of L-glutamine include beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, dairy products, wheat, cabbage, beets, beans, spinach, and parsley. Small amounts of free L-glutamine are also found in vegetable juices and fermented foods, such as miso
Miso

is a traditional Japanese cuisine produced by fermentation rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus , the most typical miso being made with soy....
.

Functions

Glutamine has a variety of biochemical functions including:
  1. A substrate for DNA synthesis
  2. Major role in protein synthesis
  3. Primary source of fuel for enterocyte
    Enterocyte

    Enterocytes, or intestinal absorptive cells, are simple columnar epithelial cells found in the small intestines and colon. A glycocalyx surface coat contains digestive enzymes....
    s (cells lining the inside of the small intestine)
  4. Precursor for rapidly dividing immune cells, thus aiding in immune function
  5. Regulation of acid-base balance in the kidney by producing ammonium
    Ammonium

    The ammonium cation is a positively electric charge polyatomic ion of the chemical formula NH4+. It has a formula weight of 18.05 and is formed by protonation of ammonia ....
  6. Alternative source of fuel for the brain and helps to block cortisol
    Cortisol

    Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone or glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex, that is part of the adrenal gland . It is usually referred to as the "stress hormone" as it is involved in response to stress and anxiety, controlled by Corticotropin-releasing hormone....
    -induced protein catabolism
  7. As a form of fixed nitrogen by heterocyst
    Heterocyst

    Heterocysts are specialized nitrogen fixation cells formed by some filamentous cyanobacteria, such as Nostoc punctiforme, Cylindrospermum stagnale and Anabaena sperica, during nitrogen starvation....
    s, exchanged for photosynthate from undifferentiated cyanobacteria
    Cyanobacteria

    Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, blue-green bacteria or Cyanophyta, is a phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis....
    l cells


Use

It is normal in nutritional tablet form to take as a suppository to increase its effects as most of the amino acids are absorbed in the lower stomach. In catabolic states of injury and illness, GLN becomes conditionally-essential (requiring intake from food or supplements). Glutamine has been studied extensively over the past 10-15 years and has been shown to be useful in treatment of serious illnesses, injury, trauma, burns, cancer and its treatment related side-effects as well as in wound healing for postoperative patients. That is why it is now also classified as a nutraceutical
Nutraceutical

Nutraceutical, a portmanteau of nutrition and pharmaceutical, refers to extracts of foods claimed to have a medicinal effect on human health. The nutraceutical is usually contained in a medicinal format such as a capsule , tablet or powder in a prescribed dose....
. Glutamine is also marketed as a supplement used for muscle growth in weightlifting
Weightlifting

Weightlifting, also called Weightlifting at the Summer Olympics or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates....
, bodybuilding
Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is the process of maximizing muscle hypertrophy; an individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their aesthetic appearance....
, endurance
List of sports

The following is a list of sports, divided by category. There are many more sports to be added. This system has a disadvantage because some sports may fit in more than one category....
 and other sports.

Glutamine has also been taken to enhance brain function as it fuels two of the brain's most important neurotransmitters: glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It also assists in nitrogen transportation and reduces toxic build up of ammonia in the brain (though is contra-indicated for those with Reye's Syndrome). Hence, it has been used to aid memory, increase IQ in those with mental retardation, and to support people with schizophrenia and senility.

It has also been used in the treatment of ADHD, anxiety. and depression.

It has also been used in recovery programs to break sugar craving cycles in alcoholics (although is contra-indicated for those with cirrhosis of the liver or kidney disease) and assist people in the management of sugar craving in diabetes.

It is also used as an anti-inflammatory in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and preserves Glutathione (important for detoxification and immune support) levels in the liver.

Glutamine is contraindicated for those with Reye's syndrome
Reye's syndrome

Reye's syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that causes numerous detrimental effects to many organs, especially the brain and liver. It is associated with aspirin consumption by children with viral diseases such as chickenpox....
, cirrhosis of the liver and kidney disease.

Aiding gastrointestinal function

In recent studies, glutamine-enriched diets have been linked with intestinal effects including maintenance of gut barrier
Enterocyte

Enterocytes, or intestinal absorptive cells, are simple columnar epithelial cells found in the small intestines and colon. A glycocalyx surface coat contains digestive enzymes....
 function, and cell differentiation. This may relate to the fact that the intestinal extraction rate of glutamine is higher than that for other amino acids, and is therefore thought to be the most viable option when attempting to alleviate conditions relating to the gastrointestinal tract. These conditions were discovered after comparing plasma concentration within the gut between glutamine-enriched and non glutamine-enriched diets. However, even though glutamine is thought to have "cleansing" properties and effects, it is unknown to what extent glutamine has clinical benefits, due to the varied concentrations of glutamine in varieties of food.

Aiding recovery after surgery

It is also known that glutamine has various effects in reducing healing
Wound healing

Wound healing, or wound repair, is the body's natural process of regenerating dermis and Epidermis Biological tissue. When an individual is wounded, a set of complex biochemical events takes place in a closely orchestrated cascade to repair the damage....
 time after operations. Hospital-stay times after abdominal surgery
Surgery

Surgery is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, to help improve bodily function or appearance, or sometimes for some other reason....
 can be reduced by providing parenteral nutrition regimes containing high amounts of glutamine to patients. Clinical trials have revealed that patients on supplementation regimes containing glutamine have improved nitrogen balances, generation of cysteinyl-leukotriene
Leukotriene

Leukotrienes are naturally produced eicosanoid lipid signaling, which may be responsible for the effects of an inflammatory response. Leukotrienes use both autocrine signalling and paracrine signalling to regulate the body's response....
s from polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes and improved lymphocyte
Lymphocyte

A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system.By their appearance under the light microscope, there are two broad categories of lymphocytes, namely the large granular lymphocytes and the small lymphocytes....
 recovery and intestinal permeability (in postoperative patients) - in comparison to those who had no glutamine within their dietary regime; all without any side-effects
Adverse effect (medicine)

In medicine, an adverse effect is a harmful and undesired effect resulting from a medication or other intervention such as chemotherapy or surgery....
.

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