Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body, being involved in more metabolic processes than any other amino acid. Over 61% of skeletal muscle tissue is glutamine. Glutamine is converted to glucose when more glucose is required for energy and aids in immune function. Glutamine assists in maintaining the proper acid/alkaline balance in the body, provides fuel for a healthy digestive tract, and is the basis of the building blocks for the synthesis of RNA and DNA. Studies have shown glutamine to be useful in treatment of serious illnesses, injury, trauma, burns, and cancer treatment–related side effects and in wound healing for postoperative patients. Glutamine is also marketed as a supplement used for muscle growth in weightlifting and bodybuilding. Glutamine transports ammonia, the toxic metabolic byproduct of protein breakdown, to the liver, where it is converted into less toxic urea and then excreted by the kidneys.
| Micromole per liter | µmol/L = mcmol/L = umol/L = µM/L = mcM/L = uM/L = micromol/L |
| Milligram per liter | mg/L = millig/L = milligram/L = mg/liter |
| Milligram per deciliter | mg/dL = millig/dL = milligram/dL |
| Milligram per 100 milliliters | mg/100mL = millig/100mL = milligram/100mL |
| Milligram percent | mg% = millig% = milligram% |
| Microgram per milliliter | µg/mL = mcg/mL = ug/mL = microg/mL = microgram/mL |