L-Glutamine

What this is. The most abundant amino acid in your body. Taken for recovery after hard training and for gut lining support.

4 g of L-glutamine per scoop, and the scoop weighs 4 g. One ingredient, nothing else in the tub — no flavouring, no sweetener, no filler.

What you are actually getting, per 1 scoop (4 g)

• L-Glutamine — 4 g

That single line is the whole panel. No extract, no ratio, no blend, so there is no arithmetic to show. The scoop weighs 4 g and the glutamine in it weighs 4 g, which means the powder is glutamine and nothing else. The panel does not state whether it is micronised or what grade it is; it says L-glutamine and stops.

Worth knowing before you buy

Glutamine research is usually run at 5 g a day or more. The clinical and gut work that gets quoted most often uses considerably more than that — frequently in the region of 20 to 30 g a day, split into doses — and the exercise recovery studies generally start around 5 g. One scoop is 4 g, which sits just under the bottom of that range. Two scoops clear it and halve the tub to 15 days, and we would rather you knew that before you worked it out at the sink.

The other thing worth saying plainly: glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and it is already plentiful in ordinary protein. A serving of whey or plant protein contains several grams of it. If you eat a normal amount of protein you are getting glutamine, and this tub adds 4 g of it in isolated form on top.

What this is: plain glutamine at a fair weight per scoop, with nothing added and nothing hidden behind a blend. What it is not: a dose that matches the larger studies, and not a flavoured drink — there is nothing in here to make it taste of anything.

How to take it

One 4 g scoop stirred into water or a drink, once a day. Thirty scoops in the tub, so one a day is 30 days. At two scoops a day it is 15 days.

Other ingredients

None. The panel's other-ingredients line is blank, which means there is nothing in the tub except L-glutamine. There is no capsule, so there is no gelatin question to answer, and the panel declares no allergens. It does not state that it is certified vegetarian or vegan either, and it does not say whether it is made on shared equipment. If that matters to you, read the physical label before you use it.

Cautions

Glutamine metabolism produces ammonia, so if you have cirrhosis or any liver condition that affects how your body clears ammonia, speak to your doctor before taking it. Concentrated amino acid powders are worth clearing with your doctor first if you have kidney disease as well, since the kidneys handle the nitrogen load. Interaction databases also flag glutamine alongside anti-seizure medicines, on the grounds that glutamine is converted to glutamate in the body; the evidence there is thin rather than absent, so mention it to your doctor if you take one rather than assume either way. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not use if the safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not exceed the recommended dose. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking prescription medication or living with a medical condition, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting this or any supplement.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.