Glutamine is the amino acid that is present in greater amounts in the body, as it is produced naturally through the conversion of another amino acid, glutamic acid. In addition, glutamine can also be found in some foods, such as yogurt and eggs, for example, or it can be consumed as a nutritional supplement, being found in sports supplement stores.
Glutamine is considered a semi-essential amino acid, since in the face of stressful situations, such as illness or the presence of a wound, it can become essential. In addition, glutamine performs several functions in the body, mainly related to the immune system, participates in some metabolic pathways and favors the formation of proteins in the body.
List of foods rich in glutamine
There are some animal and plant glutamine sources, as shown in the following table:
| Animal foods | Glutamine (Glutamic acid) 100 grs |
| Cheese | 6092 mg |
| Salmon | 5871 mg |
| Beef | 4011 mg |
| Fish | 2994 mg |
| eggs | 1760 mg |
| Whole milk |
1581 mg |
| Yogurt | 1122 mg |
| Plant-based foods | Glutamine (Glutamic acid) 100 grs |
| Soy | 7875 mg |
| Corn | 1768 mg |
| Tofu |
1721 mg |
| Chickpeas | 1550 mg |
| Lentil | 1399 mg |
| Black bean | 1351 mg |
| Beans | 1291 mg |
| White bean | 1106 mg |
| Peas | 733 mg |
| White rice | 524 mg |
| Beet | 428 mg |
| Spinach | 343 mg |
| Cabbage | 294 mg |
| Parsley | 249 mg |
What is glutamine for
Glutamine is considered an immunomodulator, as it is used as an energy source by the cells of the muscles, intestine and immune system, stimulating and strengthening the immune system.
Some studies have shown that supplementation with glutamine accelerates recovery and decreases the length of hospital stay of people who are in the postoperative period, in critical condition or who have suffered burns, sepsis, have polytrauma or are immunosuppressed. This is because this amino acid becomes essential during a metabolic stress situation, and its supplementation is important to prevent muscle breakdown and stimulate the immune system.
In addition, L-glutamine supplementation is also used to maintain muscle mass, since it is able to decrease muscle tissue breakdown after exercise, stimulates muscle growth because it favors the entry of amino acids into muscle cells, helps in the recovery after intense tissues and helps in the recovery of the syndrome of excessive athletic training, a situation characterized by the decrease of the plasma levels of glutamine.
Learn more about glutamine supplements.
