Thread: CONFUSED ABOUT GLUTAMINE

The higher level of free glutamine in your muscles, the fatser muscle grows. Research has shown that the entry of glutamine into the muscle cell can increase its volume, including growth. It's interesting to note that whenever integrin functions are blocked, cell swelling cannot stimulate glutamine transport. That points up the importance of integrins' role in the growth process whenever mechanical forces - like weigth training - are the main stimulator. It also links glutamine not only to growth but also to the transduction of training-induced-tension into anabolism. So, glutamine may be far more important to bodybuilder than was thought. The lesson for bodybuilders is that when you fast (night etc,) the relative shortage of glutamine will increase muscle loss. This means that glutamine is either anabolic, OR when in a shortage, impairs anabolism. When you workout, your glutamine supplies decrease which is unfortunate. So your body makes its own glutamine from other amino acids such as the BCAA's. This leads to the depletion of other anabolic amino's. Weight trainging depletes your reserves of glutamine for a very long time which causes protein sysnthesis to be depressed. Since overnight fasting also causes glutamine depletion, the 2 combine to exacerbate catabolism. So what does this mean you ask? Well this means you should combat the depletion by compensating for the fall in glutamine stores.

I reccommend taking it in the morning, before a wokrout, after a wokrout, and at night. Also, although studies are not conclusive on this, attempt glutamine loading like creatine loading. See how it reacts with your body then stick to the schedule. Also try a whey-caesin protein drink before a workout to give you some extra BCAA's. Sounds crazy taking this before but give it a try and then switch to afterwards.

I hope this helps you!!

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Got Muscle?

go to proteinfactory.com -- there's some great info about glutamine there. I think that in recent years, if there's something that I've learned, you have to listen to your body and sort of trial and error to get the best results for yourself.