Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsL-Glutamine May Help IBSWhen to Take L-GlutamineRisks & SafetyFood Sources of L-GlutamineOther Treatment Options
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
L-Glutamine May Help IBS
When to Take L-Glutamine
Risks & Safety
Food Sources of L-Glutamine
Other Treatment Options
L-glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in your body and is necessary to build proteins and maintain various aspects of health.
Sometimes referred to asglutamine, L-glutamine is a nonessential amino acid, meaning your body can make it on its own. However, it’s still important to consume L-glutamine through foods or supplements.
Research shows that L-glutamine supports metabolism and immunity and may also benefit gut health.Some studies also show that L-glutamine may help alleviate symptoms ofirritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements like prescription drugs. This means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN or RD), or pharmacist.
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Some evidence indicates that L-glutamine supplementation may improve IBS symptoms.
However, research in this area is limited because only a few human trials are available.
In one small study, adults with diarrhea-predominant IBS (also known asIBS-D) were randomized to take either 15 grams (g) of glutamine or a placebo every day for eight weeks.
Glutamine was also associated with improved daily bowel movement frequency, abdominal pain, and quality of life.
In another study, adults with IBS followed alow FODMAP dietwith or without glutamine supplementation for six weeks.
Those who followed the diet and took daily glutamine (15 g per day) had more significant improvements in IBS symptoms than those who only followed the low FODMAP diet.
Despite these positive results, both studies had short duration times and didn’t cover all types of IBS.
More research is necessary to both strengthen this evidence and reach a better understanding of how L-glutamine may support people with IBS.
When Should You Take L-Glutamine?
A healthcare provider may recommend taking L-glutamine for specific health conditions or if you have a deficiency.
L-glutamine may be recommended for the following:
Although your body can make glutamine, you can also become deficient in the amino acid.
Glutamine deficiency may occur due to trauma or specific conditions in which red blood cells are destroyed.A glutamine deficiency typically requires supplementation.
To ensure proper diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare provider before taking L-glutamine for a suspected deficiency.
What Are the Risks of Taking L-Glutamine?
As with any dietary supplement, taking L-glutamine may involve some risks. Possible risks include allergies, interactions, side effects, and other precautions.
If you have any health conditions, take other supplements, or take prescription medications, talk with your healthcare provider to ensure that L-glutamine is safe for you.
What Foods Have L-Glutamine?
Glutamine is an amino acid found in many protein foods, including plant—and animal-based proteins.
Adults typically consume 3 to 6 g of glutamine daily through food.
For healthy people, a food-first approach is recommended for getting enough glutamine.
Sources of glutamine include:
Animal products are thought to contain more glutamine than plant-based foods. However, very little research has looked into the exact amounts of glutamine in foods.
According to one study, the glutamine content of specific foods (per 100 g) is:
There is no recommended daily intake amount for glutamine.
Most healthy people get all the glutamine they need from their diet and their body’s natural synthesis of glutamine.
However, a glutamine supplement may be recommended for specific health conditions.
What Else May Help IBS Symptoms?
L-glutamine may not be the only integrative treatment for IBS. Other supplements and health approaches have been studied for their potential benefits for people with IBS, including:
For additional guidance on how to manage IBS, talk with a healthcare provider.
Summary
Some evidence indicates that L-glutamine supplements may help reduce specific IBS symptoms, but more research is necessary overall.
L-glutamine supplements are generally considered safe, but side effects, interactions, and other adverse events are also possible.
Your body can make L-glutamine and get it through various foods, including animal-based foods and grains.
There are many other ways to manage IBS, and a healthcare provider can help you choose the best treatment.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cruzat V, Macedo Rogero M, Noel Keane K, et al.Glutamine: metabolism and immune function, supplementation and clinical translation.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1564. doi:10.3390/nu10111564Zhou Q, Verne ML, Fields JZ, et al.Randomised placebo-controlled trial of dietary glutamine supplements for postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.Gut. 2019;68(6):996-1002. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315136Rastgoo S, Ebrahimi-Daryani N, Agah S, et al.Glutamine supplementation enhances the effects of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome management.Front Nutr. 2021;8:746703. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.746703Morris CR, Hamilton-Reeves J, Martindale RG, et al.Acquired amino acid deficiencies: a focus on arginine and glutamine.Nutr Clin Pract. 2017;32(1_suppl):30S-47S. doi:10.1177/0884533617691250Jafari-Vayghan H, Varshosaz P, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, et al.A comprehensive insight into the effect of glutamine supplementation on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2020;17:80. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00503-6Arribas-López E, Zand N, Ojo O, et al.The effect of amino acids on wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis on arginine and glutamine.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2498. doi:10.3390/nu13082498MedlinePlus.L-glutamine.Hatami B, Saffaei A, Jamali F, Abbasinazari M.Glutamine powder-induced hepatotoxicity: it is time to understand the side effects of sports nutritional supplements.Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2020;13(1):86-89.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.Ma W, Heianza Y, Huang T, et al.Dietary glutamine, glutamate and mortality: two large prospective studies in US men and women.Int J Epidemiol. 2018;47(1):311-320. doi:10.1093/ije/dyx234Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0Dale HF, Rasmussen SH, Asiller ÖÖ, Lied GA.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: an up-to-date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cruzat V, Macedo Rogero M, Noel Keane K, et al.Glutamine: metabolism and immune function, supplementation and clinical translation.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1564. doi:10.3390/nu10111564Zhou Q, Verne ML, Fields JZ, et al.Randomised placebo-controlled trial of dietary glutamine supplements for postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.Gut. 2019;68(6):996-1002. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315136Rastgoo S, Ebrahimi-Daryani N, Agah S, et al.Glutamine supplementation enhances the effects of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome management.Front Nutr. 2021;8:746703. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.746703Morris CR, Hamilton-Reeves J, Martindale RG, et al.Acquired amino acid deficiencies: a focus on arginine and glutamine.Nutr Clin Pract. 2017;32(1_suppl):30S-47S. doi:10.1177/0884533617691250Jafari-Vayghan H, Varshosaz P, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, et al.A comprehensive insight into the effect of glutamine supplementation on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2020;17:80. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00503-6Arribas-López E, Zand N, Ojo O, et al.The effect of amino acids on wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis on arginine and glutamine.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2498. doi:10.3390/nu13082498MedlinePlus.L-glutamine.Hatami B, Saffaei A, Jamali F, Abbasinazari M.Glutamine powder-induced hepatotoxicity: it is time to understand the side effects of sports nutritional supplements.Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2020;13(1):86-89.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.Ma W, Heianza Y, Huang T, et al.Dietary glutamine, glutamate and mortality: two large prospective studies in US men and women.Int J Epidemiol. 2018;47(1):311-320. doi:10.1093/ije/dyx234Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0Dale HF, Rasmussen SH, Asiller ÖÖ, Lied GA.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: an up-to-date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cruzat V, Macedo Rogero M, Noel Keane K, et al.Glutamine: metabolism and immune function, supplementation and clinical translation.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1564. doi:10.3390/nu10111564Zhou Q, Verne ML, Fields JZ, et al.Randomised placebo-controlled trial of dietary glutamine supplements for postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.Gut. 2019;68(6):996-1002. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315136Rastgoo S, Ebrahimi-Daryani N, Agah S, et al.Glutamine supplementation enhances the effects of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome management.Front Nutr. 2021;8:746703. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.746703Morris CR, Hamilton-Reeves J, Martindale RG, et al.Acquired amino acid deficiencies: a focus on arginine and glutamine.Nutr Clin Pract. 2017;32(1_suppl):30S-47S. doi:10.1177/0884533617691250Jafari-Vayghan H, Varshosaz P, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, et al.A comprehensive insight into the effect of glutamine supplementation on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2020;17:80. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00503-6Arribas-López E, Zand N, Ojo O, et al.The effect of amino acids on wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis on arginine and glutamine.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2498. doi:10.3390/nu13082498MedlinePlus.L-glutamine.Hatami B, Saffaei A, Jamali F, Abbasinazari M.Glutamine powder-induced hepatotoxicity: it is time to understand the side effects of sports nutritional supplements.Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2020;13(1):86-89.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.Ma W, Heianza Y, Huang T, et al.Dietary glutamine, glutamate and mortality: two large prospective studies in US men and women.Int J Epidemiol. 2018;47(1):311-320. doi:10.1093/ije/dyx234Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0Dale HF, Rasmussen SH, Asiller ÖÖ, Lied GA.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: an up-to-date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome.
Cruzat V, Macedo Rogero M, Noel Keane K, et al.Glutamine: metabolism and immune function, supplementation and clinical translation.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1564. doi:10.3390/nu10111564
Zhou Q, Verne ML, Fields JZ, et al.Randomised placebo-controlled trial of dietary glutamine supplements for postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.Gut. 2019;68(6):996-1002. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315136
Rastgoo S, Ebrahimi-Daryani N, Agah S, et al.Glutamine supplementation enhances the effects of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome management.Front Nutr. 2021;8:746703. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.746703
Morris CR, Hamilton-Reeves J, Martindale RG, et al.Acquired amino acid deficiencies: a focus on arginine and glutamine.Nutr Clin Pract. 2017;32(1_suppl):30S-47S. doi:10.1177/0884533617691250
Jafari-Vayghan H, Varshosaz P, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, et al.A comprehensive insight into the effect of glutamine supplementation on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.Nutr Metab (Lond). 2020;17:80. doi:10.1186/s12986-020-00503-6
Arribas-López E, Zand N, Ojo O, et al.The effect of amino acids on wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis on arginine and glutamine.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2498. doi:10.3390/nu13082498
MedlinePlus.L-glutamine.
Hatami B, Saffaei A, Jamali F, Abbasinazari M.Glutamine powder-induced hepatotoxicity: it is time to understand the side effects of sports nutritional supplements.Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2020;13(1):86-89.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.
Ma W, Heianza Y, Huang T, et al.Dietary glutamine, glutamate and mortality: two large prospective studies in US men and women.Int J Epidemiol. 2018;47(1):311-320. doi:10.1093/ije/dyx234
Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0
Dale HF, Rasmussen SH, Asiller ÖÖ, Lied GA.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: an up-to-date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048
Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome.
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