L-glutamine is an unusual amino acid in that it is the only amino acid that possesses two nitrogen groups. This makes it a useful shuttle for the body in shifting nitrogen balance, and for this reason it has been hypothesised that supplements of glutamine may play an important role in post-exercise recovery. One way this may be achieved is through supplemental glutamine providing the additional glutamine that may be needed following intense exercise. For example, in one study, supplementation with L-glutamine to a group of subjects performing heavy eccentric exercise resulted in a significant reduction in delayed onset muscle soreness in the treatment compared to placebo group. Another benefit of l-glutamine may be its immuno-stimulatory effects, which are important post-exercise when the immune system can be damaged by the stress of the exercise. This is related to the need for glutamine within immune cells increasing during exercise and for a length of time once exercise has finished.
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