Summary.
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body. It is an important fuel for some key cells of the immune system. Both the plasma concentration of glutamine and the functional ability of immune cells in the blood are decreased after prolonged, exhaustive exercise. Glutamine feeding has had beneficial effects in clinical situations, and the provision of glutamine after intensive exercise has decreased the incidence of infections, particularly of upper respiratory tract infections. However, the precise effect of glutamine on immunodepression in this situation is not yet established.
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Received January 2, 2000 / Accepted February 1, 2000
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Castell, L., Newsholme, E. The relation between glutamine and the immunodepression observed in exercise. Amino Acids 20, 49–61 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007260170065
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007260170065