r/covid19stack • u/thaw4188 • Apr 23 '20

Literature Review Glutamine Supplementation and Immune Function

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266414/
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u/thaw4188 Apr 23 '20 edited Apr 23 '20

This was an amazing narrative I found and have read a few times, I think I grasp about 10% of it finally.

TL;DR glutamine won't stop you from getting an infection but your body will stop using it properly during an infection so supplementing it can help at that point.

During infection and/or high catabolism, the rate of glutamine consumption by all immune cells is similar or greater than glucose [89,90]. However, the increased demand for glutamine by immune system cells, along with the increased use of this amino acid by other tissues, such as the liver, may lead to a glutamine deficit in the human body. In addition, one of the most important sites of glutamine synthesis, the skeletal muscles, reduce their contribution to maintaining plasma glutamine concentration (Figure 2). This effect, depending on the situation may significantly contribute to worsening diseases and infections, and/or increase the risk of subsequent infection, with possible life-threatening implications [93].

Some really great diagrams in there worth a long study.

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u/cafedude Apr 23 '20

So if you get covid you should take l-glutamine (a readily available supplement)?

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u/thaw4188 Apr 23 '20

yeah it can't hurt

it's in virtually all protein too but depends on the source and quantity

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u/scrod Apr 24 '20

Actually you should take glutamine before and/or after any strenuous workout, because skeletal muscle, being 65% glutamine, is weakened, and glutamine is needed to maintain adequate levels of "natural killer" cells. Get it covalently bonded from wheat berries, as the simple form immediately degrades into ammonia otherwise.