Glutamine
Sleep & Recovery · Amino acid
Tier B
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Glutamine as B (6.6/10) based on moderate evidence, low benefit magnitude, and a low-risk safety profile.
Large gap between clinical utility (severely ill/wounded patients) and healthy-athlete marketing.
Typical use: 5-10 g/day PO (athlete); up to 30 g/day clinical — OTC.
What this is
Large gap between clinical utility (severely ill/wounded patients) and healthy-athlete marketing. Ziegler 2013 EPaNIC-era REDOXS trial found IV glutamine in ICU was harmful — cooled enthusiasm. Modest gut-barrier support claims. Competes with BCAAs for transport.
Mechanism
Most abundant free amino acid; conditionally essential during catabolic stress; primary fuel for enterocytes and immune cells; glutathione precursor
Dose & route
5-10 g/day PO (athlete); up to 30 g/day clinical
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23594003/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29466325/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6124787/
Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.
Common questions
- Does Glutamine work?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Glutamine as Moderate and the benefit magnitude as low, producing an overall grade of B (6.6/10). Large gap between clinical utility (severely ill/wounded patients) and healthy-athlete marketing.
- Is Glutamine safe?
- Glutamine has a low risk profile in published human data. Legal status: OTC. This is not medical advice — see the disclaimer.
- What is the typical dose for Glutamine?
- 5-10 g/day PO (athlete); up to 30 g/day clinical
- How does Glutamine work?
- Most abundant free amino acid; conditionally essential during catabolic stress; primary fuel for enterocytes and immune cells; glutathione precursor
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.