glutamine enriched protein

[emmab]

is glutamine really necessary, if so how much is needed, and what are some good products (either straight glutamine or protein containing it)

 

[bodyfx]

Glutamine is one supplement i take year around.Up to 60g per day.I use muscle meals brand MRP which has 10g glutamine peptides per serving.I also use G Force peptides by Osmo.

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wspwst

 

[BackDoc]

Whey protein should normally have a large amount of glutamine in it. Find a good brand and that should be okay.

 

[lonewulf]

Actually while whey is an excellent source of BCAA's, it is a poor source of glutamine. I prefer to take my glutamine separately, on an empty stomach. Glutamine may be the superman of amino acids, but it sucks at competing with other aminos for absorbtion. Glutamine Peptides are suposed to be much better absorbed with other aminos than free form L-glutamine, so if you dont want to take powder on an empty stomach, you may look for products that contain these.

 

[BackDoc]

The glutamine in whey may also be listed as glutamic acid...it's essentially the same thing.

The reason why whey protein was added to the Life Extension Foundation's required supplements list was a result of the high amount of glutamic acid/glutamine levels--which is a glutathione precursor capable of modulation of free radicals.

I am not sure exactly if there are other protein sources higher in glutamine/glutamic acid...there very well may be. However, the issue may be a matter of how the whey protein was isolated...which may be the cause of your particular brand of whey protein being lower in glutamine/glutamic acid.

take care.

 

[bodyfx]

Glutamic acid is not the same as glutamine.Only go for products containing added L- glutamine or much better yet,glutamine peptides(far more absorbable).Muscle Meals,Dorian Yates Approved,Met-RX Pro 50 are 3 great options.

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wspwst

 

[Robboe]

Glutamine and glutamic acid are NOT the same thing. They are two completely different amino acids as bodyfx rightly said. I wouldn't however, agree with him when he says he takes in 60g of it a day. If you have too much of an amino acid in your stomache you can get diahorrea (sp?). 15 g daily is ideal. 5g before breakfast, 5g before or after training and 5g before bed. If you take it on an empty stomache (or as close to empty as you can get) then you can be sure that most of it will be absorbed.

Also, peptides are the better choice for taking it with whey protein.

Oh, and to answer your question: "is it really necessary?" - No. It is a supplement. Supplements only really work in conjuction with a perfect diet. Infact, only a few of them work at all!

 

[BackDoc]

Remember, I said "essentially". Although they are to some degree interchangeable, the rates of conversion of glutamine from glutamic acid are somewhat stable. For instance, if you have 15 grams of glutamic acid in your whey protein drink you can expect no less than half of that to be converted to glutamine. I understand fully that glutamine and glutamic acid are different aminos, however, you have to remember that we are discussing functional differences that are fully evident in the laboratory NOT in the human body. Yes, while they are technically different chemically, they can contribute to the formation of each other to such an extent that diffrentiation physiologically is not that crucial.

Here are some of my references:

"glutamic acid forms the important amino acid glutamine." http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/aminoacids/pages/glutamicacid.html

"The carboxylic group can lose a proton, as well as the amine group. Glutamic acid side chain also has a carboxylic group that can lose its proton." (This supports the notion that it can convert to glutamine) http://math.smith.edu/~amino/glutamic/glutamic.html

"Glutamine is not an essential amino acid, as it is a derivative of Glutamic Acid." http://www2.kenyon.edu/depts/biology/courses/biol63/amino_acids/glutamine.html


If anyone needs textbook verification I can present that as well.

Take care

 

[bodyfx]

With all due respect to all.Real proof of the efficacy of any supplement is proven in the REAL world...not labs,not textbooks.Since I added glutamine peptides to my regimen(yes,up to 60 grams per day),my gains in size and strength have skyrocketed.Also,I never ever get sick anymore..not even a snifle.I have experimented with this supplement with most of my clients and never failed to achieve considerably more progress with them than when they don't use glutamine peptides.Any serious bodybuilder should use it,although you must find out for yourself what dose is best for your needs.

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wspwst

 

[BackDoc]

I agree. No dispute there.

I however, do not get greater results from peptides that I do with regular glutamine or from several whey shakes a day. I'm not disputing that peptides can be just as good or better for some people, just that even with an expensive brand of peptides I didn't notice a difference that would justify the change. Everyone gets their own results from different things, and that's a key thing to remember.

I hope you didn't interpret my post as a way of explaining some hoped-for result...rather I was explaining in my case why the glutamine in whey was enough to meet my needs. So in this case it was a means of using science to back up my real world experience.

Take care.