Glutamine Side Effects

Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid and occurs naturally in the human body. It constitutes more than 60% of muscle tissues. Glutamine plays an important role in the digestive and immune system, and acts as a conductor of nitrogen to the muscles. A high concentration of glutamine is found in the brain, lungs, heart, kidney, liver, muscles and intestinal lining.

Why Glutamine Supplements is Taken
Many people take glutamine mainly because of the following reasons:

• Some bodybuilders take glutamine supplements as it helps in adding additional muscle and bulk.
• Glutamine present in muscles play a role in building protein blocks. Some people take glutamine supplement as a precautionary safeguard to prevent any shortage of glutamine naturally prepared by their bodies.

What are the Various Glutamine Side-Effects
Glutamine supplement is potent enough to have potent medicinal properties. Therefore, apart from the above mentioned reasons, it is reasonable to assume that there are certain side effects of glutamine, associated with its use.

• A rise in the level of liver enzymes.
• Difficult micturition. The urine production suddenly decreases and mild pain is felt in the lower back where the kidneys are located.
• Development of manic depression in the patients of bipolar disorder.
• In many people, glutamine cause chills, lightheadedness, dizziness, severe headaches, fainting, fever, puffiness of the face or tongue, tightness in the chest, stomachache and tachycardia.
• Development of some psychological disorder due to the excess of glutamine by-products such as glutamate and ammonia in the body.
• Increase in the risk of seizures occurrence.
• Many glutamine supplement takers experience coughing, hoarseness of the throat and frequent urge to defecate.
• Many people, who are on long-term use of glutamine, experience glutamine side effects of yellowing of skin color, a decrease in touch sensation, cold hands and feet, depression, discoloration of finger nails or toe nails, change in vaginal discharge, lack of concentration, and a general feeling of weakness.
• Many other glutamine side effects include constipation, body ache, breast pain, indigestion, lack of appetite, emesis of food or blood, flatulence, nausea, swelling around the anus, gas, congestion, dry or sore throat, and runny nose.

What are the Risk Factors of Glutamine Side-Effects?
Glutamine is not recommended to expectant mothers and breast-feeding women. Your body naturally produces glutamine. Since, it is a natural supplement, there should be no potential side effects of glutamine. But excess of anything is bad. This is the case with glutamine as well.

• You are suffering from the following illnesses and are taking glutamine supplements.
  1. Cirrhosis of the liver.
  2. Kidney problems
  3. Reye's syndrome
• You are taking glutamine in more than recommended amounts. As a thumb rule, you are not supposed to take more than 10 grams in one sitting and more than 25 grams in a day.

In case, you notice any of the above cited side effects of glutamine in yourself on taking glutamine supplement, you should immediately stop the supplement and consult a medical professional for necessary intervention.