Effect of glutamine supplementation combined with resistance training in
young adults
DG Candow, PD Chilibeck, DG Burke, KS Davison & T Smith-Palmer
Eur J Appl Physiol (2001) 86: 142-149
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of oral glutamine
supplementation combined with resistance training in young adults. A group of
31 subjects, aged 18-24 years, were randomly allocated to groups (double
blind) to receive either glutamine (0.9 g•kg lean tissue mass-1•day-1; n=17)
or a placebo (0.9 g maltodextrin•kg lean tissue mass-1•day-1; n=14) during 6
weeks of total body resistance training. Exercises were performed for four to
five sets of 6-12 repetitions at intensities ranging from 60% to 90% 1
repetition maximum (1 RM). Before and after training, measurements were taken
of 1 RM squat and bench press strength, peak knee extension torque (using an
isokinetic dynamometer), lean tissue mass (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry)
and muscle protein degradation (urinary 3-methylhistidine by high performance
liquid chromatography).
Repeated measures ANOVA showed that strength, torque, lean tissue mass and
3-methylhistidine increased with training (P<0.05), with no significant
difference between groups. Both groups increased their 1 RM squat by
approximately 30% and 1 RM bench press by approximately 14%. The glutamine
group showed increases of 6% for knee extension torque, 2% for lean tissue
mass and 41% for urinary levels of 3-methylhistidine. The placebo group
increased knee extension torque by 5%, lean tissue mass by 1.7% and
3-methylhistidine by 56%.
We conclude that glutamine supplementation during resistance training has no
significant effect on muscle performance, body composition or muscle protein
degradation in young healthy adults.
