L-Glutamine is the most abundant Amino Acid in the human body. It makes up approximately 60 percent of our skeletal muscle and plays an important role in protein synthesis, the function of the immune system, and gut health.  Muscle tissue is a major site of Glutamine production, where it forms the anabolic precursor for muscle growth. However, it is a ‘conditionally Essential Amino Acid’. This means that although the body can synthesise it from other Amino Acids, under certain circumstances, such as illness, surgery and periods of intense training, the Glutamine needs of our body may exceed its ability to produce it and so it must be obtained from dietary sources.

 

Like many other Amino Acids, Glutamine exists in two different forms. These are L-glutamine and D-glutamine. They are almost identical but have a slightly different molecular arrangement.  While L-Glutamine is used to make proteins and perform many other functions in the body, D-Glutamine does not appear to play an important role in living organisms.