Why L-Glutamine works!

[Samstone]

We hear about taking L-Glutamine to reduce cravings but without knowing why it works it’s difficult to believe that it does work.

I have done extensive research on L-Glut. At first I wasn’t making any headway as everyone kept saying the same thing: That’s it’s a powerful amino acid proven effective in double blind clinical trials to reduce cravings for alcohol. But no-one was explaining WHY it works so it’s been hard for me to believe that it does work.

Then I came across an article by Dr. Patricia Slagle who explains best why L-Glut is effective. First of all:

L-Glut 101:
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in circulation in our bodies. It is a major fuel source & therefore energy source for the entire body. It is an important fuel for the brain & can provide adequate energy in the absence of glucose (the other major brain fuel). For this reason it is helpful with focus, concentration, memory, intellectual performance, alertness, attentiveness, improving mood and eliminating brain fog & cloudiness. (All the more reason to take it gang!)

This gets too deep medically so in laymen’s terms alcohol may cause exaggerated insulin secretion resulting in severe hypoglycemia (too low blood sugar).

When the blood sugar is low, Glutamine suppresses insulin to stop the further decline of the sugar levels. It also stimulates glycogen (a stored form of glucose) to be released to help increase the blood sugar to normal levels. These blood sugar stabilizing effects may partially explain why it decreases alcohol cravings, as well as sugar cravings. In studies with alcoholics, 2000-3000 mg 3 times daily decreased the desire to drink, decreased anxiety, & improved sleep. It works best given between meals. It has been used for this purpose in daily doses from 6000-15,000 mg in 3 divided doses. Use upon arising, mid-morning & mid-afternoon between meals.

L-Glutamine may be taken on a daily basis, or kept on hand to manage "craving emergencies" in which the powder from half a 1,000 capsule is poured directly under the tongue. Many MWO members have shared this info with each other stating that this works for them when they are undergoing severe cravings.

Giving Glutamine to rats decreased their voluntary alcohol consumption by 34%. When the Glutamine was stopped, their alcohol consumption returned to baseline levels.

Studies using high dose Glutamine have failed to demonstrate toxicity. However Glutamine should be avoided in cases of acute liver failure & kidney failure.

Precautions: Glutamine should not be taken by persons with cirrhosis of the liver, kidney problems, Reye's syndrome, or any type of disorder that can result in an accumulation of ammonia in the blood.

To our good health!
Eve11

Bump

[knobert]

Hey Samstone

L-Glutamine has also been proven to provide some relief of withdrawal symptoms by increasing the amount of GABA in the brain. I have used L- Glutamine during withdrawals. It by no means takes them away, but when they are really bad, it does take a little of the edge off. It would help me with the shaking and anxiety.

For the eggheads out there here's a study showing oral l-glutamine increases brain GABA levels. The last paragraph just before the references sums it up in just a couple of sentences.


http://www.fasebj.org/content/21/4/1227.full.pdf

Take care

Knob

[lbardina@yahoo.com]

Does anybody know, how L-Glutamine relates to Glutamate, which is cancer feeding molecule on the par with sugar?

[Dutch1988]

Lbard,

From what I have read, glutamine is a recursive to either glutamic acid of gaba, and intake of glutamine will move towards balancing these two neurotransmitters. Of course that's all Google research and could be bs, anyone have a history of mental illness try glutamine? I read a study saying elevates glutamine levels are linked to mental illness, and I just started taking some. I have a strong family history of mental illness and don't want this to be the kiss of death.

[paulywogg]

I took some glutamine yesterday and just felt tired but I was already tired anyways but I defo think it has calming effects,I'm not sure I'dtake it everyday though

[Dutch1988]

Well I've been taking it for six days and to me it's great. I have had so much less cravings for sugar, I never thought I would break free from the beast. I take it all day long, I have pills and powder. Some endurance athletes think it helps, but I just want to get to a point where I am not addicted to sugar. I don't think I have been sugar free 30 days since I was born haha

[Neo]

I have powdered form which I've increased to 3 x 4g/ day so the post by Eve sounds right. I don't know about pills as I have a 1kg bag of it and think you would need the 6 - 15g/day as in the post to get benefits . Don't think a 500mg pill would cut it