2000 Q. I am 52-years old and exercise regularly. I would like to know if there is any benefit in taking glutamine supplements. The advertisements for the supplement say it will help build muscle and will decrease the risk of colds and infections. Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in our bodies.
Amino acids are, of course, a critical part of our biology.
They form the proteins that are the building blocks for many of our body tissues, including muscle. Also, the formation of hemoglobin, enzymes, many hormones, as well as antibodies is based upon amino acids. Blood and muscle levels of glutamine do tend to fall as a result of exhaustive exercise and other physical stress. So, working up a good, prolonged sweat theoretically could cause this chemical to slip below a critical point. As a result, muscle mass may decrease, exercise recovery may be prolonged, and risk of illness may rise.