Is glutamine effective when gaining weight?

[SuperRod]

I ve used glutamine only to hold on muscle mass, I read a while ago in Flex that it was useless when you are trying to put on weight, what do you think?

[dkemano42]

Originally Posted by SuperRod

I ve used glutamine only to hold on muscle mass, I read a while ago in Flex that it was useless when you are trying to put on weight, what do you think?

Here a little info from Muscle & Fitness Magazine. Not sure if it will help with your question.

This amino acid has a multitude of functions which benefit bodybuilders. Of primary interest is that glutamine aids hypertrophy by increasing levels of leucine in muscle fibers and helps decrease muscle breakdown. Supplementing it helps keep the immune system functioning well, helping to prevent illness and missed trips to the gym. Taken pre workout, glutamine can help decrease muscle fatigue by buffering lactic acid. It also boosts GH levels, making it a great supplement post workout and before bed. IN addition, research shows it can increase the amount of calories and fat burned at rest and during exercise. Dosage should be 5-10 grams in the morning, 30 minutes pre workout, post workout, and right before bed.

DK

[Blindead]

No, it is not. I have a plethora of studies, with I think 2 or 3 showing that it had 0 benefit on gaining muscle.

Interestingly enough, I have another saying it didn't help with lean tissue preservation during a cut. However, if you want to take it on a cut, that's yoru decision. I'm not saying it's 100% useless, I'm just saying that it's not something I'd invest in with little evidence of its efficacy as of yet.

[in10city]

Originally Posted by SuperRod

I ve used glutamine only to hold on muscle mass, I read a while ago in Flex that it was useless when you are trying to put on weight, what do you think?

For the average well-fed folks it's a poorly marketed bucket of false promises.

It's basically marketed with unrealistic expectations to the younger crowd who are not truly training at a very high level and are just looking to gain some weight. So pass.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...1&postcount=26

[MaxEnergy]

i think its Great for gaining muscle, I use High Power microzied Glutamine at 5G and find that my stregnthstays up. As for gaining musle if you work out vigarously it does its job

[DietNaziBJJ]

Yet another unproven supplement with conflicting studies regarding its effectiveness.

I do take it, but only because due to personal experience I've found that I have slightly reduced muscle soreness the next morning.

Keep in mind though, I'm not really a bodybuilder or weightlifter of any kind, I'm a competitive athlete who trains 4-6 hours a day at a very high intensity level in the months approaching competition, often with a very low caloric intake due to weight class restrictions.

So, I'm not your typical person going into the gym for 45 minutes, and I can't really say that during the periods of intense training that I'm able to take in nearly as many calories as I should. So take that as you may. I've used it during times when I was only doing weight training, and noticed no real difference from it.

I personally believe that most of the percieved positive effects of glutamine can be better achieved through the use of micronized creatine.

[TheWaffleIron]

Originally Posted by dkemano42

Here a little info from Muscle & Fitness Magazine. Not sure if it will help with your question.

It probably won't, if its from Muscle & Fitness.

Originally Posted by dkemano42

This amino acid has a multitude of functions which benefit bodybuilders. Of primary interest is that glutamine aids hypertrophy by increasing levels of leucine in muscle fibers and helps decrease muscle breakdown.

This is not supported in scientific literature.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17111006

Addition of glutamine to essential amino acids and carbohydrate does not enhance anabolism in young human males following exercise.

Wilkinson SB, Kim PL, Armstrong D, Phillips SM.

Exercise Metabolism Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.

We examined the effect of a post-exercise oral carbohydrate (CHO, 1 g.kg(-1).h(-1)) and essential amino acid (EAA, 9.25 g) solution containing glutamine (0.3 g/kg BW; GLN trial) versus an isoenergetic CHO-EAA solution without glutamine (control, CON trial) on muscle glycogen resynthesis and whole-body protein turnover following 90 min of cycling at 65% VO2 peak. Over the course of 3 h of recovery, muscle biopsies were taken to measure glycogen resynthesis and mixed muscle protein synthesis (MPS), by incorporation of [ring-2H5] phenylalanine. Infusion of [1-13C] leucine was used to measure whole-body protein turnover. Exercise resulted in a significant decrease in muscle glycogen (p < 0.05) with similar declines in each trial. Glycogen resynthesis following 3 h of recovery indicated no difference in total accumulation or rate of repletion. Leucine oxidation increased 2.5 fold (p < 0.05) during exercise, returned to resting levels immediately post-exercise,and was again elevated at 3 h post-exercise (p < 0.05). Leucine flux, an index of whole-body protein breakdown rate, was reduced during exercise, but increased to resting levels immediately post-exercise, and was further increased at 3 h post-exercise (p < 0.05), but only during the CON trial. Exercise resulted in a marked suppression of whole-body protein synthesis (50% of rest; p < 0.05), which was restored post-exercise; however, the addition of glutamine did not affect whole-body protein synthesis post-exercise. The rate of MPS was not different between trials. The addition of glutamine to a CHO + EAA beverage had no effect on post-exercise muscle glycogen resynthesis or muscle protein synthesis, but may suppress a rise in whole-body proteolysis during the later stages of recovery.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11822473

Effect of glutamine supplementation combined with resistance training in young adults.

Candow DG, Chilibeck PD, Burke DG, Davison KS, Smith-Palmer T.

College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of oral glutamine supplementation combined with resistance training in young adults. A group of 31 subjects, aged 18-24 years, were randomly allocated to groups (double blind) to receive either glutamine (0.9 g x kg lean tissue mass(-1) x day(-1); n = 17) or a placebo (0.9 g maltodextrin x kg lean tissue mass(-1) x day(-1); n = 14 during 6 weeks of total body resistance training. Exercises were performed for four to five sets of 6-12 repetitions at intensities ranging from 60% to 90% 1 repetition maximum (1 RM). Before and after training, measurements were taken of 1 RM squat and bench press strength, peak knee extension torque (using an isokinetic dynamometer), lean tissue mass (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and muscle protein degradation (urinary 3-methylhistidine by high performance liquid chromatography). Repeated measures ANOVA showed that strength, torque, lean tissue mass and 3-methylhistidine increased with training (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between groups. Both groups increased their 1 RM squat by approximately 30% and 1 RM bench press by approximately 14%. The glutamine group showed increases of 6% for knee extension torque, 2% for lean tissue mass and 41% for urinary levels of 3-methylhistidine. The placebo group increased knee extension torque by 5%, lean tissue mass by 1.7% and 3-methylhistidine by 56%. We conclude that glutamine supplementation during resistance training has no significant effect on muscle performance, body composition or muscle protein degradation in young healthy adults.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11834123

The effects of high-dose glutamine ingestion on weightlifting performance.

Antonio J, Sanders MS, Kalman D, Woodgate D, Street C.

Sports Science Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine if high-dose glutamine ingestion affected weightlifting performance. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 6 resistance-trained men (mean +/- SE: age, 21.5 +/- 0.3 years; weight, 76.5 +/- 2.8 kg(-1)) performed weightlifting exercises after the ingestion of glutamine or glycine (0.3 g x kg(-1)) mixed with calorie-free fruit juice or placebo (calorie-free fruit juice only). Each subject underwent each of the 3 treatments in a randomized order. One hour after ingestion, subjects performed 4 total sets of exercise to momentary muscular failure (2 sets of leg presses at 200% of body weight, 2 sets of bench presses at 100% of body weight). There were no differences in the average number of maximal repetitions performed in the leg press or bench press exercises among the 3 groups. These data indicate that the short-term ingestion of glutamine does not enhance weightlifting performance in resistance-trained men.

Originally Posted by dkemano42

Supplementing it helps keep the immune system functioning well, helping to prevent illness and missed trips to the gym.

In otherwise healthy trainees, neither is this supported in literature.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10410846

Facts and fallacies of purported ergogenic amino acid supplements.

Williams MH.

Department of Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Recreation, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. mwilliam@odu.edu

Although current research suggests that individuals involved in either high-intensity resistance or endurance exercise may have an increased need for dietary protein, the available research is either equivocal or negative relative to the ergogenic effects of supplementation with individual amino acids. Although some research suggests that the induction of hyperaminoacidemia via intravenous infusion of a balanced amino acid mixture may induce an increased muscle protein synthesis after exercise, no data support the finding that oral supplementation with amino acids, in contrast to dietary protein, as the source of amino acids is more effective. Some well-controlled studies suggest that aspartate salt supplementation may enhance endurance performance, but other studies do not, meriting additional research. Current data, including results for several well-controlled studies, indicated that supplementation with arginine, ornithine, or lysine, either separately or in combination, does not enhance the effect of exercise stimulation on either hGH or various measures of muscular strength or power in experienced weightlifters. Plasma levels of BCAA and tryptophan may play important roles in the cause of central fatigue during exercise, but the effects of BCAA or tryptophan supplementation do not seem to be effective ergogenics for endurance exercise performance, particularly when compared with carbohydrate supplementation, a more natural choice. Although glutamine supplementation may increase plasma glutamine levels, its effect on enhancement of the immune system and prevention of adverse effects of the overtraining syndrome are equivocal. Glycine, a precursor for creatine, does not seem to possess the ergogenic potential of creatine supplementation. Research with metabolic by-products of amino acid metabolism is in its infancy, and current research findings are equivocal relative to ergogenic applications. In general, physically active individuals are advised to obtain necessary amino acids through consumption of natural, high-quality protein foods.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12183472

Exercise-induced immunodepression- plasma glutamine is not the link.

Hiscock N, Pedersen BK.

Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

The amino acid glutamine is known to be important for the function of some immune cells in vitro. It has been proposed that the decrease in plasma glutamine concentration in relation to catabolic conditions, including prolonged, exhaustive exercise, results in a lack of glutamine for these cells and may be responsible for the transient immunodepression commonly observed after acute, exhaustive exercise. It has been unclear, however, whether the magnitude of the observed decrease in plasma glutamine concentration would be great enough to compromise the function of immune cells. In fact, intracellular glutamine concentration may not be compromised when plasma levels are decreased postexercise. In addition, a number of recent intervention studies with glutamine feeding demonstrate that, although the plasma concentration of glutamine is kept constant during and after acute, strenuous exercise, glutamine supplementation does not abolish the postexercise decrease in in vitro cellular immunity, including low lymphocyte number, impaired lymphocyte proliferation, impaired natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell activity, as well as low production rate and concentration of salivary IgA. It is concluded that, although the glutamine hypothesis may explain immunodepression related to other stressful conditions such as trauma and burn, plasma glutamine concentration is not likely to play a mechanistic role in exercise-induced immunodepression.

Originally Posted by dkemano42

Taken pre workout, glutamine can help decrease muscle fatigue by buffering lactic acid. It also boosts GH levels, making it a great supplement post workout and before bed. IN addition, research shows it can increase the amount of calories and fat burned at rest and during exercise.

References?

[tylerlawson]

i do not care what studies say this or that.but i know my last contest i started using glutamine select from beverly international and also let them do my diet.and i recovered better slept better.to me maybe its in my mind but i dont think so.it really helps me.also i took a yr off and came and for the first time competed over 200 at 220

[labradarep]

As with most supplements you are going to get reports that are positive & some that are negative. It really comes down to the induvidual. It will help some & others will find no benefit.

Try the product & decide for yourself.

It is the most abundant amino acid in our body!

[hintontopher]

ANYONE EVER HEARD OF SHRINERS HOSPITAL? They use hmb arginine and glutamine to help burned patients research research research!!!

[chickeneater]

Originally Posted by tylerlawson

i do not care what studies say this or that.but i know my last contest i started using glutamine select from beverly international and also let them do my diet.and i recovered better slept better.to me maybe its in my mind but i dont think so.it really helps me.also i took a yr off and came and for the first time competed over 200 at 220

a very good and honest post! as long as you felt it worked, and it gave you the placebo effect, then it was worth it!

[nathanbailey]

Originally Posted by hintontopher

ANYONE EVER HEARD OF SHRINERS HOSPITAL? They use hmb arginine and glutamine to help burned patients research research research!!!

next time i get burnt at the gym ill remember that. until then. useless.

[Devisissy]

It helps with muscle soreness if I take it RIGHT after my workouts. I mean RIGHT after. It was also suggested by my doctor for my Crohn's disease. In some studies by the Mayo clinic and Gonzaga University it was been shown in Crohn's patients with reoccurring IC to have their occurrences drop by 15% or more. 15% is huge when you are talking about the pain of IC.

[ZeroCool72]

Lol L-Glutamine doesn't make your muscle gain ... only to recovery faster to repair the torn muscles after post work out. work out and torn the muscle and rest to recovery then workout torn and rest . so on .. Muscle will grow bigger. what's the moral ? go home ,rest and grow

[jvaughan08]

studies can be manipulated to say what the people conducting the study want them to say