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.
Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: 5-10 g/day PO (athlete); up to 30 g/day clinical — OTC; not individualized guidance.
What the evidence says
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
Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route
5-10 g/day PO (athlete); up to 30 g/day clinical
This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.
Citations
A link means the source informed this entry; it does not mean every claim on the page comes from that source. If a citation looks wrong or you want a claim re-checked, send a correction.
Common questions
- What does the evidence show about Glutamine's effects?
- 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.
- What safety findings are reported for Glutamine?
- Glutamine has a low risk profile in the database. Low (caution in decompensated liver disease — ammonia accumulation; also signals mTOR which is undesirable for longevity goals) Legal status: OTC.
- What doses or routes are reported for Glutamine?
- 5-10 g/day PO (athlete); up to 30 g/day clinical This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
- 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.