Glutamine: A Good Supplement for Bodybuilding?

By: Sean Nalewanyj .... Click on the author's name to view their profile and articles!!!

Unlike creatine, which is considered a "no brainer" supplement for bodybuilding, glutamine is only popular with some people. While creatine is considered a safe "no brainer," glutamine is only used by some people. According to some others, its benefits as a supplement for bodybuilding are not proven.

Till not too long ago, glutamine was considered to be a "must-have" supplement for any bodybuilder. However, recent studies have indicated that the benefits of glutamine were vastly overrated. So should you include glutamine on your list as a vital bodybuilding supplement? I'll tell you.

Since glutamine is a non-essential amino acid, even though it makes up about 65 percent of amino acids in the body, the body can create it out of other amino acids and molecules in times of deficit. During stress, our amino acids are diminished, which limits muscle growth. So, it makes sense to use glutamine as a supplement for bodybuilding for some people.

There are some who claim that glutamine helps repair damaged muscles and prevents soreness after exercise, which is why it's necessary. Others claim that it helps enhance strength when taken before a workout, because it boosts immune function.

However, current research does not show that glutamine is an essential supplement for bodybuilding. Some interesting findings of the research are that while glutamine does work under clinical stress testing, it doesn't do anything to enhance a workout; quantities of glutamine that would cost an average bodybuilder anywhere up to $1000 a year were used for this test.

The types of "stress" that the studies refer to are also important, and include severe burns, AIDS, and extensive surgery. According to the tests, taking a glutamine supplement during weight training did not affect muscle performance, body composition, or muscle breakdown in a healthy adult.

A research study even disproved some people's belief that glutamine improves cell volume. Another finding was that glutamine does not alter exercise-induced immune system reduction. It was also proven that exercise-induced immune system reduction is not changed by glutamine.

The question that remains inconclusively answered is whether glutamine improves glycogen stores after exercise; however, some bodybuilders say that this isn't something you should worry about because you'll be drinking a high carbohydrate shake after your workout anyway.

A final study showed that your body creates up to 48 percent more protein when an amino acid drink is consumed after a workout. However, when glutamine was added to the mix, there was no change in protein synthesis. So, what do you believe now? Is glutamine a good supplement for bodybuilding?

As usual, the truth is somewhere in between. Glutamine does provide some benefits, while it isn't everything it was made out to be in the past. Glutamine apparently can be a good supplement for bodybuilding to restore testosterone levels after exercise.

It is also a good supplement for bodybuilding when used in conjunction with a fat loss program to get that hard, ripped look. This means that those who are attempting to get extremely lean should benefit from glutamine use as a means of preserving muscle.

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There is a considerable amount of debate as to whether or not glutamine is a good supplement for bodybuilding. While creatine is considered a safe "no brainer," glutamine is only used by some people.

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Note: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Sean Nalewanyj