A study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that wrestlers who took glutamine while on a weight-loss program did not preserve any more muscle than wrestlers who took a placebo.
Glutamine is a naturally occurring amino-acid that is commonly stored in muscles and released into the blood when necessary. Previous research suggested that glutamine supplements can help maintain muscle mass. Many athletes in sports that require ‘making weight’ take glutamine supplements to keep muscle mass while trying to lose fat. Wrestlers often take glutamine for this purpose.
In this most recent study researchers looked at glutamine or a placebo in 18 college wrestlers who were also undergoing a 12-day weight-loss program. All 18 ate the same high-protein diet, but half took glutamine supplements, while half took a placebo. While all 18 athletes lost weight from body fat, all 18 also lost similar amounts of lean muscle. The glutamine supplements did not have any significant effect on how much muscle was maintained.
Even though this study doesn’t support the notion that glutamine supplements help maintain muscle mass while dieting, more research is needed to draw any definitive conclusion.
