

One of the most important functions of glutamine is its role in the immune system. Getting enough protein in your diet can ensure you are getting enough.

Animal foods are good sources due to their protein contents. SummaryĪlmost any food containing protein will contain some glutamine, but amounts vary.

However, because glutamine is a necessary part of proteins, virtually any food containing protein will contain some glutamine.įocusing on getting enough protein in your overall diet is an easy way to potentially increase the amount of glutamine you are consuming. Unfortunately, the exact glutamine content of many specific foods has not been studied. Thus, meat and other animal products are the simplest ways to get high amounts of it. White rice: 11.1% (0.3 g per 100 g of rice)Īlthough some plant sources, such as white rice and corn, have a large percent of protein made up of glutamine, they have fairly low protein contents overall ( 11, 12, 13).The following are the percentages of protein made up of L-glutamine in each food: One study used advanced lab techniques to determine how much L-glutamine is found in various foods ( 11). However, some plant-based foods have a greater percentage of it in their protein. The largest amounts are found in animal products due to their high protein contents. It has been estimated that a typical diet contains 3 to 6 grams per day, but this can vary based on your specific diet ( 10). Glutamine is naturally found in a variety of foods. It is part of the proteins in yourīody and involved in immune function and intestinal health. Therefore, it’s considered a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning that it must be obtained from the diet under certain conditions, such as injury or illness ( 8).Īlso, glutamine is an important molecule for the immune system and intestinal health ( 9). However, there are times when the glutamine needs of your body are greater than its ability to produce it ( 7). In fact, it is the most abundant amino acid in the blood and other body fluids ( 5, 6). L-glutamine can be produced naturally in your body. While L-glutamine is used to make proteins and perform other functions, D-glutamine appears to be relatively unimportant in living organisms ( 3, 4). Some supplements list it as L-glutamine, but others simply use the broader term glutamine. The form found in foods and supplements is L-glutamine. They are almost identical but have a slightly different molecular arrangement ( 2). Like many other amino acids, it exists in two different forms: L-glutamine and D-glutamine. They also serve other functions, such as transporting substances in the blood and fighting off harmful viruses and bacteria ( 1). Their main purpose is to serve as building blocks for proteins. Amino acids are molecules that play many roles in the body.
