General strengthening of the immune system, as a preventative for infectious illnesses

During colds, flus, bronchitis, sinusitis, and other infections of the respiratory tract

Supports recovery from nearly all chronic illnesses, but particularly after infections, injuries, burns, lowered food intake, post surgery

Irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal and stomach ulcers, leaky gut syndrome, colitis

As a companion nutritional supplementation to increase effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer

Fatigue, depression, anxiety

After exercise, workout, strenuous physical work - to prevent muscle break down

Fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis

Nutritional supplementation with glutamine is essential in times of metabolic stress, which include: chronic illnesses, injuries, starvation, infections, burns, and mental stress. During those times two essential mechanisms lead to a potential glutamine deficiency. The main one is a resulting state of acidosis when the body has to remove excess acids and other waste products with the help of glutamine. Secondly, due to release of extra cortisol into the bloodstream, a muscle breakdown takes place. Both the attempt of the muscles to rebuild themselves and the use of glutamine in various other metabolic pathways leads to a net deficiency of glutamine. Numerous clinical studies have shown that an ample supply of glutamine during these states of heightened need leads to an amazingly quick and more permanent recovery of both the muscle state and recovery of the body as a whole.

Glutamine is essential to the wellbeing of the intestinal tract. It is the primary fuel for the cells lining the gut. Absence of glutamine can lead to intestinal damage, ultimately resulting in such conditions as a leaky gut a syndrome. Since glutamine is also important in improving the function of the immune system within the cells lining the intestinal mucosa, glutamine helps control and minimize entry of pathogens into the body via the intestinal tract. Glutamine fights inflammation resulting in colitis and it is well known to decrease diarrhea and increase water absorption back into the organism. Glutamine promotes healing of ulcers, especially in those ulcers secondary to frequent intake of anti-inflammatory prescription medications.

Glutamine prevents liver damage and reverses consequences of certain drug toxicities, such as acetaminophen, on the liver. (It is harmful, however, in very late stages of liver failure, hepatic coma.)

Glutamine helps the immune system by increasing cell division and multiplication among white blood cells and improves the ability of phagocytes to directly attack bacteria. In laboratory experiments, it was demonstrated that white blood cells cannot replicate in cell cultures, unless glutamine is present.

Glutamine is extremely helpful in conditions where chemotherapeutic agents or radiation are given in the fight against cancer. In general, it is not recommended that glutamine be given when patients already have a tumor since the basic mechanism of glutamine promotes cell division. (However, clinical studies in both patients and animals have demonstrated that additional doses of glutamine will not increase the number of tumors or lead to metastases. Nevertheless histological examinations have shown an increased cell division within the tumor itself.) Precisely because of increased cell division, however, it is easy to understand why simultaneous chemotherapy or radiation with glutamine addition will have better results. Since glutamine increases cell division, it will cause tumor cells to be more sensitive to the chemotherapeutic agent.

Glutamine is essential in restoring muscle mass. It is a favorite among bodybuilders.  After strenuous exercise, muscles breakdown and acidosis is present in the body. Glutamine largely prevents muscle break down.

Glutamine is helpful in any number of autoimmune and other inflammatory conditions. Glutamine is known to decrease the production of cytokines in the body. It has been shown to be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and it leads to a lessening of the body aches and pains that are associated with either strenuous muscle activity or inflammatory processes in the muscles such as in fibromyalgia.

Glutamine is very helpful in mental conditions with patients who are depressed, angry or fatigued. Glutamine is known to be a neurotransmitter, used by the body both in the direction of GABA and/or dopamine as needed. Patients taking glutamine have a decreased pain perception in the body. Glutamine has been shown to increase the intelligence quotient (IQ) of both mentally impaired and normal children. In adults, glutamine was associated with improved problem-solving ability.