Amino Acid
L-Glutamine (Gut/Detox)
Also known as: L-glutamine, Glutamine
A
Evidence
Conditionally essential amino acid that fuels enterocytes, supports gut barrier, and aids detox pathways.
Primary uses
- Gut barrier repair
- Enterocyte fuel
- Detox support
- Immune function
How it works
- Primary fuel for intestinal cells
- Supports tight junction integrity
- Precursor for glutathione
- Supports immune cells
Dosage
- Typical range
- 5-20g daily for gut healing, 2-5g for maintenance
- Timing
- Away from meals or divided throughout day
- With food
- Either way, often away from meals
- Duration
- Short-term high dose for healing, lower for maintenance
- Special populations
- Leaky gut, IBD, athletes, post-surgery
Forms
- Powder
- Capsules
Safety
Common side effects
- Rare at typical doses
Contraindications
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Severe liver disease
Evidence notes
Strong evidence for gut barrier and critical illness
Grade A: Multiple well-designed human trials support the main claims.
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