As already in the main topic Glutamin described it concerns with the Glutaminsäure an amino acid, which can be synthesized by the body. Through intensive training catabolic situations arise, which cause the cell poison ammonia to be released. The glutamic acid absorbs the released ammonia.
This absorption produces glutamine, which counteracts neuromuscular damage that can be caused by ammonia. Glutamine finally reaches the liver via the bloodstream, where it is reconstituted into glutamic acid. In cases of intensive training (= catabolic situation) or reduced food intake, the muscle cells lose glutamine.
The body needs energy, which it tries to obtain by breaking down proteins into amino acids. In the course of this energy production process, other amino acids (e.g. arginine, histidine, but also branched-chain (BCCA ́s ) such as leucine and isoleucine) are converted to glutamic acid. After the absorption of the glutamic acid in the intestine finally finds a conversion to alanine, which reaches the liver via the bloodstream and supplies the necessary energy there.
The conversion of other amino acids results in an amino acid deficit in the body and as a consequence a reduced biosynthesis with a negative nitrogen balance and increased muscle breakdown. At this point, glutamine supplied from outside could cause a reduced consumption of other amino acids and thus also prevent the side effects described in the last paragraph (reduced biosynthesis with a negative nitrogen balance and increased muscle breakdown).
