Glutamine potently stimulates release of GLP-1 which might cause weight loss

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Monday, September 20, 2004 3:50 pm Email this article
The amino acid glutamine potently releases a peptide in the gut which reduces food intake called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) according to a new study. GLP-1 reduces food intake and body weight

Studies have found that GLP-1 reduce hunger, calorie intake and bodyweight in both normal and type 2 diabetics (Meier et al, 2002).

Glutamine increases GLP-1, 7-fold

In the current study, an optimal dose of glutamine increased GLP-1 release by 7.1-fold.

Glutamine more potent than glucose or other amino acids

Glutamine was a more potent at releasing GLP-1 than glucose or other amino acids.

Conclusion: Glutamine might be useful for treating diabetes and obesity

“The results suggest that nutritional agents like glutamine might have beneficial effects in diabetes and obesity,” the authors of the study concluded.

GLP-1 also has an anti-diabetic effect (Meier et al, 2002).

Previous study in mice found glutamine caused weight loss in mice

A previous study found that glutamine reduced blood sugar, insulin, and caused weight loss in mice.

Previous study found 2 grams of glutamine increased growth hormone 4-fold

A previous study also found that giving people 2 grams of glutamine orally increased growth hormone levels by an average of 4-fold (Welbourne, 1995).

Waiting for human weight loss studies

I am not aware of any human studies testing the effect of glutamine on weight loss in humans.

REFERENCE

Reimann F, Williams L, Da Silva Xavier G, Rutter G, Gribble F. Glutamine potently stimulates glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion from glutag cells. Diabetologia. 2004 Sep 9.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

F. Reimann
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
Wellcome Trust/MRC Building
Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Hills Road
CB2 2XY, Cambridge, UK

OTHER REFERENCES

Meier J, Gallwitz B, Schmidt W, Nauck M. Glucagon-like peptide 1 as a regulator of food intake and body weight: therapeutic perspectives. Eur J Pharmacol. 2002 Apr 12, 440(2-3):269-79.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

J. Meier
Medizinische Klinik I
St. Josef-Hospital
Klinikum der Ruhr-Universitat Bochum
Gudrunstr. 56, Germany

REFERENCE

Welbourne T. Increased plasma bicarbonate and growth hormone after an oral glutamine load. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 May, 61(5):1058-61.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

T. Welbourne
Department of Physiology
Louisiana State University College of Medicine
Shreveport 71130, USA

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• Glutamine (amino acid)