Glutamine supplements are generally well tolerated in adults. However, this doesn’t mean everyone should take them.
5 Studies show that glutamine supplements shouldn’t be consumed by people with kidney disease, liver disease or a rare childhood disorder called Reye’s syndrome.
6-8
Taking any sort of supplement can cause side effects and glutamine is no exception. Some of the side effects associated with routinely taking glutamine include:9
- bloating
- nausea
- dizziness
- heartburn
- stomach pain
Doses of up to 0.65g of glutamine per kg of body mass have been reported to be tolerated without resulting in significant side effects.
9 However, the typical dose of glutamine used in muscle recovery studies is around 0.1g of glutamine per kg of body weight per day.
10 This means that while 0.65g per kg of body weight may have been tolerated, generally, a lower dose is given when scientific research is carried out.
10
Studies on the effects of glutamine, especially taken in high doses for an extended period, are limited. This means that we don’t know exactly what impact it could have on your body long-term.
If you’re considering starting any supplement, you must check to make sure it doesn’t interact with any other medication (prescription or over-the-counter) you take. No formal drug interaction study has been done with glutamine, so we recommend you speak to your healthcare provider before taking your first dose.