glutamine

Glutamine (L-glutamine) is a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid that becomes conditionally essential during periods of metabolic stress, such as major surgery, trauma, or chronic illness. It is the most abundant free amino acid in the human body, primarily synthesized and stored in skeletal muscle. Glutamine serves as a critical fuel source for rapidly proliferating cells, including leukocytes and intestinal enterocytes, thereby supporting immune function and gastrointestinal mucosal integrity. In clinical practice, pharmaceutical-grade glutamine is FDA-approved for the treatment of sickle cell disease (to reduce acute complications) and short bowel syndrome (in combination with growth hormone). It is also widely investigated for its ability to stimulate GLP-1 secretion in metabolic disorders, reduce protein degradation in muscular dystrophies, and mitigate wasting in HIV/AIDS and cancer cachexia.

Brand names

EndariNutreStoreGlutamine Plus

Other names

L-glutamineGLNLevoglutamide2-aminopentanedioic acid 5-amide