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Glutamine and Skeletal Muscle

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Book cover Glutamine in Clinical Nutrition

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Of the group of 20 amino acids which covalently bonded in linear sequences to form all proteins from the oldest bacteria to the most complex forms of life, glutamine deserves special attention. For many mammals, including human beings, glutamine, especially intermediate metabolism of amino acids of muscle cells, is the most abundant free amino acid in the body and is important in many cell types, playing an important role in a number of essential functions. In high catabolism conditions, such as diseases and exhausting exercise, the synthesis of glutamine does not supply the needs demanded by the organism. In this process, one of the most important sites of glutamine synthesis is the skeletal muscle, not for its synthesis capacity per se, but because it represents at least 40 % of total bodily mass.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 580, Bloco 14, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil

    Julio Tirapegui Ph.D. & Vinicius Fernandes Cruzat

Authors
  1. Julio Tirapegui Ph.D.
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  2. Vinicius Fernandes Cruzat
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julio Tirapegui Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Tirapegui, J., Cruzat, V.F. (2015). Glutamine and Skeletal Muscle. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Glutamine in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1932-1_38

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1932-1_38

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1931-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1932-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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