ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the physiological functions of glutamine and its importance to the immune system. It deals with the effects of exercise on glutamine concentration and availability. The chapter explains how nutrition and glutamine can modulate the immune response during acute and chronic exercise. Glutamine is involved in the transference of nitrogen among organs, detox of ammonia, and maintenance of the acid–base balance during acidosis, a possible direct regulation of protein synthesis and degradation, and a precursor of nitrogen for nucleotide synthesis. Glutamine is a very important nutrient for the immune function. The plasma and tissue glutamine concentrations are reduced in clinical and catabolic situations such as trauma, burns, sepsis, postoperatory, and after exhaustive exercising or intense training. The plasma and tissue glutamine concentrations can be affected by acute exercise or training; diet can also alter these concentrations according to the proportion or quantity of each macronutrient previously offered to perform physical exercise.
