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L-Glutamine - Does It Work To Repair Your Gut?

zeeclass6

By zeeclass6
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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zeeclass6 Explorer
zeeclass6
Posted

My Naturopath wants me to take L-Glutamine between meals to help repair my gut. But I have read that the body converts L-Glutamine into Glutamate, and that you shouldn't take L-Glutamine if you have a reaction to MSG. I know that MSG gives me a headache and makes me feel drowsy and awful.

I don't know whether this information about L-Glutamine is correct or not, but I read it in several places around the web.

I have also read that it's a good idea not to eat too many foods that are high in Glutamate and Aspartate, because they can cause pain and neurological symptoms in high quantities.

Does anyone know anything about this subject? Is L-Glutamine OK to take several times per day between meals for a person who is an over-methylator?

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Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

This over/under methylator stuff is kind of whacky. I don't really buy it becasue there isn't any good science to support it. Even if it's meaningful, the conversion of glutamic acid to glutamine is not a methylation reaction.

Glutamine is safe to take. You only convert glutamate when your body needs it, since it's a neurotransmiter. That's why MSG can be hard on people; it over-rides your body's control of the glutamine conversion.

MSG is safe for many people, but troublesome for others. If you are MSG sensitive you need to avoid both MSG-containing additives and foods with natural MSG to the extent that you feel better. Some people do OK avoiding concentrated MSG; others are so sensitive that they can't eat foods like mushrooms, peas, or tomatoes. You might find this article helpful. Open Original Shared Link

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

I was hoping SkyLark would weigh in on this, because she really knows this stuff. ;)

I take one of the L-glutamine supplement tablets every other day or so. I know it helps heal the intestine, but I react to MSG very strongly, so didn't want to over do it. I have read that some people do get a reaction from the supplement.

I have Vitacost brand here, which is 1000mg. The directions say to take 1 tablet daily wih a meal. That bottle is nearly gone so I ordered a new bottle..different brand. It's Spring Valley 500mg. It says to take 1 or 2 tablets 1-4 times a day with a meal.

Taking it several times a day might be a bit much IMO?

How much you take will depend on the mg of the tablets you have. Maybe start with 1 tablet with a meal for a couple of days and see how you tolerate it? You can increase your dose if you do ok..but if you start out on that high of a dose it *could* give you a reaction that you'll have to ride out. IMO it's better to go a little slower with some of the supplements?

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Taking it several times a day might be a bit much IMO?

How much you take will depend on the mg of the tablets you have. Maybe start with 1 tablet with a meal for a couple of days and see how you tolerate it? You can increase your dose if you do ok..but if you start out on that high of a dose it *could* give you a reaction that you'll have to ride out. IMO it's better to go a little slower with some of the supplements?

This is really great advice. There is rarely a reason to jump on a supplement really quickly.

Gfresh404 Enthusiast
Gfresh404
Posted

Unfortunately not a lot of research has been done on glutamine and a lot of what is listed about it, regarding the dangers, is mostly theoretical. I personally have been taking it for about 2-3 years and it has definitely helped a ton. That being said, it hasn't been without some potentially serious side effects. The biggest danger for me was when I would take too much, I would seriously depressed, almost suicidal. But that was only when I would take too much, I think finding the right balance for each individual is the real hard part. The amount for me is 2 grams roughly every 48 - 60 hours.

So basically what I think it comes down to is finding out how much your body needs. If it's low and deficient in glutamine, you're probably going to need a lot more than 2 grams every other day.

Overall, glutamine is about as safe as any supplement gets. I would be extra careful if you are prone to depression or bipolar disorder however.

I would also recommend taking the powder form as opposed to the tablets. I have tried both and the power form seems to work better. I think this is because when you take it with water, it is spread out more evenly throughout the small intestine. As I'm sure you know, it is the primary fuel source for the cells lining the small intestine, so you want to spread out your dose evenly through your GI tract.

zeeclass6 Explorer
zeeclass6
Posted
  • Author

It's interesting that you would say that L-Glutamine would cause depression, when it is a pre-cursor to Seritonin. So in theory, it should help depression, not cause it. Yes, I do have a tendency towards depression. High EPA Fish oil has helped me a lot in that regard.

It's hard for me to totally judge my mood right now, because last week I learned that I tore cartilage in my hip and will need arthroscopic surgery. It has sent my life into a tailspin and I have been very upset the past few days.

I will keep an eye on my mood. It's hard to feel happy at the moment with this situation regarding my hip. But if I feel awful in general then I will certainly stop taking the L-Glutamine. It doesn't take much to get me feeling depressed. Once I was taking 2 Aleve every day for back pain, and it made me extremely depressed in a very short period of time. The depression went away when I stopped taking the Aleve.

The methylation stuff is, I think, strongly based in science. I have seen lectures and read about the methylation cycle. Dr. Amy Yasko does amazing stuff regarding methylation with autistic kids in the northeast.

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

It's interesting that you would say that L-Glutamine would cause depression, when it is a pre-cursor to Seritonin. So in theory, it should help depression, not cause it. Yes, I do have a tendency towards depression. High EPA Fish oil has helped me a lot in that regard.

It's hard for me to totally judge my mood right now, because last week I learned that I tore cartilage in my hip and will need arthroscopic surgery. It has sent my life into a tailspin and I have been very upset the past few days.

I will keep an eye on my mood. It's hard to feel happy at the moment with this situation regarding my hip. But if I feel awful in general then I will certainly stop taking the L-Glutamine. It doesn't take much to get me feeling depressed. Once I was taking 2 Aleve every day for back pain, and it made me extremely depressed in a very short period of time. The depression went away when I stopped taking the Aleve.

The methylation stuff is, I think, strongly based in science. I have seen lectures and read about the methylation cycle. Dr. Amy Yasko does amazing stuff regarding methylation with autistic kids in the northeast.

You are the best judge of how foods/supplements make you feel. We are all unique, so it's hard for another person to tell you what will be right for your body. I hope you find the right dose that will help heal you, without causing bad side effects.

With an upcoming surgery I can completlely understand your anxiety. It's good they can do it arthroscopically. At least you won't have a huge incision to heal as well? Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery on both issues!

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Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

The methylation stuff is, I think, strongly based in science. I have seen lectures and read about the methylation cycle. Dr. Amy Yasko does amazing stuff regarding methylation with autistic kids in the northeast.

My bad. I plugged it into google and came up with some pretty dodgy stuff. I went and looked up Amy Yasko's work and it is impressive. Did you get the genetics testing done?

I didn't see the glutamate/glutamine conversion in the stuff they're studying. It's not a methylation; it's an amidation. Also glutamine is not the precursor to serotonin. Tryptophan is. That said, just about any of the neurotransmitter-related amino acids can have effects on mood. I just remembered my naturopath psychiatrist friend gives glutamine for its anxiolytic and slightly sedating properties. Most people find it helpful as far as state of mind, but obviously stop taking something that makes you depressed!

Good luck with your hip surgery. If you're a supplement fiend like I am, you might start onto some MSM to lower inflammation and help healing. I hope your surgery goes well!

  • 2 years later...
dsharr Newbie
dsharr
Posted

It gave me 6-7 bouts of diarrhea per day and made my small intestine hurt under my rib cage. Took me too long to figure it out. Hope I can recover.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Yikes! You have been a member since 2004. Do you have celiac disease? Why would you take this supplement now? How long have you been taking it? Have other things been ruled out like gallbladder disease?

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

The functional Medicine doctor I work with uses l-glutamine as part of his plan for gut healing.  One friend of mine felt it healing when she took it.  I took it too late in the process to notice much, but my bloating seemed to be helped.  It gave me no adverse effects.

AaronM761138 Newbie
AaronM761138
Posted

   I have Asperger's also, and I've used L-Glutamine.  It can be sedating- that's one of the things its used for.

rrmac Apprentice
rrmac
Posted

The functional Medicine doctor I work with uses l-glutamine as part of his plan for gut healing.  One friend of mine felt it healing when she took it.  I took it too late in the process to notice much, but my bloating seemed to be helped.  It gave me no adverse effects.

1d

What do you mean you took it to late in the process to notice much, is that because you were already healing?

Also can you tell me more about the Functional Medicine Doctor;

1 how they differ from a regular doc

2 how you found one

 

Thanks Diane

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

The University of Chicago celiac center does not recommend this supplement: Open Original Shared Link

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