Glutamine is the most abundant single amino acid in the blood and in the
muscle tissue comprising up to 60% of the amino acid pool in skeletal muscle;
and is manufactured and released primarily by the skeletal muscle. Because it is
important in the rapid growth of cells more is needed during stress or illness.
Glutamine is utilized as a source of energy and for nucleotide synthesis by all rapidly
dividing cells, such as the cells of the intestinal lining and certain immune cells
thus without sufficient glutamine, the intestines atrophy and the immune function
breaks down. Glutamine therapy was found to improve intestinal permeability in
AIDS patients.
Glutamine serves as a nitrogen donor and a carbon donor, and is thus an
important muscle-building amino acid. Glutamine’s unique structure, containing
two nitrogen side chains makes it responsible for 35% of the nitrogen that gets
into the muscle cell. It is anti-catabolic, meaning it regulates protein synthesis in
muscles, sparing muscle tissue and helps replenish muscle glycogen after exercise.
It is also involved in glycogen synthesis in the liver and is a building block of many
other amino acids. Glutamine can increase growth hormone levels by 43% thereby
slowing aging. It also improves lymphocyte proliferation. Further more it reduces
insulin resistance and high blood sugar which also counteracts aging. One study
actually showed that glutamine directly prevents the cortisol-induced degradation
of muscle contractile proteins. It can counteract some of the catabolic effects of
cortisol through enhancing protein synthesis, increasing Growth Hormone levels
and increasing cell-volume. Thus glutamine creates an anabolic environment in
muscle cells and partially determines the rate of protein turnover in the muscle. It
may also enhance glycogen synthesis through an unknown mechanism.
The amino acid glutamine strengthens the cell lining of both the small and large
intestines, provides metabolic fuel for gut cells, brain cells, immune macrophages
and lymphocytes. Glutamine has been reported to be helpful in reducing “leaky
gut” and “brain fog”. Glutamine is important as an energy source for our bodies,
and is the primary fuel for the upper intestinal tract. It aids the immune system
by increasing the integrity of the intestinal lining preventing toxins and pathogens
from entering the bloodstream. Glutamine is also a component of folic acid.
There is an association between folic acid deficiency and seizure. Disruptions of the
intestinal lining may cause folate deficiency, and consequently lead to seizures.
The small intestine uses 40% of the glutamine in the body, it being the primary
amino acid for nourishing and repair of the cells that line the small intestine.
Insufficient glutamine increases the permeability of the gut leading to leaky
gut syndrome. This lets in toxins, pathogens and partially digested molecules
into the blood increasing the load on the liver. The large molecules entering the
bloodstream stimulate antibody production, and then the liver subsequently has
to cope with the waste products of antibodies. Which again increases the demands
made on glutathione and other antioxidants.
During kundalini the body’s demand for glutathione goes up to cope with the
free radicals and detoxification process, which robs more glutamine from the small
intestine making the leaky gut syndrome worse. The extra demand for antioxidants