Effect of Glutamine Supplementation on Muscular Damage Biomarkers in Professional Basketball Players

Abstract

Scientific evidence supports the role of L-glutamine in improving immune function. This could suggest a possible role of L-glutamine in recovery after intense exercise. To this end, the present report aimed to study if oral L-glutamine supplementation could attenuate muscle damage in a group of players of a mainly eccentric sport discipline such as basketball. Participants (n = 12) were supplemented with 6 g/day of glutamine (G group) or placebo (P group) for 40 days in a crossover study design (20 days with glutamine + 20 days with placebo and vice versa). Blood samples were obtained at the beginning and at the end of each period and markers from exercise-induced muscle damage were determined. The glutamine supplemented group displayed significantly low values of aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase and myoglobin in blood, suggesting less muscle damage compared to the placebo. In addition, adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were lower in the glutamine supplemented group than in the placebo. As a result, the circulating cortisol levels did not increase at the end of the study in the glutamine supplemented group. Altogether, the results indicate that glutamine could help attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage in sport disciplines with predominantly eccentric actions.

Ergo-Nutritional Intervention in Basketball: A Systematic Review

“…It showed a positive association with recovery markers (ALD, ALT, and CK) in young basketball players. The potential effects of glutamine supplementation [ 75 ] in recovery biomarkers (AST, lymphocytes, and ACTH), revealed hormonal and white blood cell homeostasis. Nitrate consumption show a likely significative effect on recovery (TAS and plasma polyphenol levels) [ 50 ] when administrated as 200 g purple sweet potato.…”

“…Regarding glutamine supplementation, there is an emergent popularity in exploring its potential for sports performance, due its biological functions (anabolic properties, energy production, protein regulation, buffer properties, etc.) [ 75 , 94 ]. Particularly, glutamine supplementation aims to promote immunity and ensure a quicker recovery [ 95 ].…”

“…Particularly, glutamine supplementation aims to promote immunity and ensure a quicker recovery [ 95 ]. One the one hand, glutamine is the main fuel for immune cells; however, its availability decreases as a consequence of the intensity of the game [ 75 ]. On the other hand, glutamine plays a key role in glycogen synthesis, favoring glycogen restoration [ 94 ].…”

“…On the other hand, glutamine plays a key role in glycogen synthesis, favoring glycogen restoration [ 94 ]. In addition to these ideas, as the game of basketball generates an inflammatory response as a consequence of the many eccentric movements, Córdova-Martínez and their colleges [ 75 ] investigated the potential role of glutamine supplementation over muscle damage, finding a positive association between 6 g/day of glutamine for 20 days. Finally, the role of magnesium (transporter, energetic metabolism, and relaxation/contraction) over muscular performance explains the interest it has received as an ergogenic aid given that high-intensity exercise may lead to hypomagnesemia, resulting in muscle fatigue [ 76 ].…”

Muscle Recovery and Nutrition

“…The process is exacerbated in the case of subjects that do not exercise regularly, as well as during very intense exercise bouts. In these particular cases, muscle damage may take days to recover [4]. To carry out a recovery process through nutritional intervention can be key, both in the general population and in athletes in particular.…”