The Muscle Mag
According to the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, a study found that three weeks of supplementation improved the mucosal immunity and hormonal status of participants. This led to decreased rates of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and improved mood status post-training.
The researchers emphasized the importance of maintaining immune function and hormone status to prevent URTI and insufficient recovery in athletes, which can negatively impact sport performance and health.
They pointed out that L-glutamine deficiency is common in athletes during periods of intense exercise, leading to immune suppression and increased infection rates in overtrained athletes.
Susceptibility to infection
Combat-sport athletes are particularly vulnerable to infection due to repeated strenuous exercises, rapid weight loss for competition, and increased exposure to pathogens through close contact.
Previous research has linked immune suppression to decreases in salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and nitric oxide (NO), while changes in the testosterone/cortisol (T/C) ratio are related to exercise performance.
Study details
The study recruited 21 high-level combat-sport athletes for a randomized crossover trial. Participants consumed either L-glutamine powder or a placebo for three weeks, with saliva samples collected to measure immune and hormonal markers.
The results showed that L-glutamine supplementation improved immune markers and mood status, potentially preventing hormonal disturbances caused by intense training and supporting overall health and sports performance.
Although inflammatory markers were not assessed, the researchers suggested that the mood improvement could be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of L-glutamine.
