Influence of glutamine supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress indices following 14km running

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of 7 day glutamine supplementation on exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage. Methods: Nineteen healthy, nonsmoking, young men were recruited to participate in this study. Participants were randomized in a double-blind placebo-controlled fashion into 2 groups: Glutamine (G group) (n=9) and placebo (P group) (n=10). Subjects consumed daily either glutamine (1.5 g/kg glutamine +250ml water+15g sweetener) or placebo (250ml water+15g sweetener) for 7days. Then, participants ran 14km and were allowed to consume water throughout the exercise. Blood samples were taken before supplementation, before exercise, immediately, and 1h after exercise. Results: Creatine kinase (CK) significantly increased in both groups after exercise compared with pre-exercise (P 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant CK increase in P group compared with the G group 1h after exercise (P=0.021). TAC significantly increased immediately post-exercise compared with pre-exercise just in the G group (P 0.05). There was significant reduced glutathione (GSH) increase in the G group after supplementation, immediately, and 1h after exercise, but just 1h after exercise in P group compared with baseline (P 0.05). Malondealdehyde (MDA) significantly increased 1h after exercise compared with pre-exercise just in P group (P 0.05). There was any within or between groups’ differences in serum total bilirubin (P 0.05). Conclusion: It seems 7 day glutamine supplementation has been able to affect oxidative stress and muscle damage markers via possibly an effect on antioxidant agents.