Effect of Oral Glutamine Supplementation on Human Neutrophil Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Degranulation Following Prolonged Exercise

in International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

Click name to view affiliation

Neil P. Walsh
Search for other papers by Neil P. Walsh in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
,
Andrew K. Blannin
Search for other papers by Andrew K. Blannin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
,
Nicolette C. Bishop
Search for other papers by Nicolette C. Bishop in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
,
Paula J. Robson
Search for other papers by Paula J. Robson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
, and
Michael Gleeson
Search for other papers by Michael Gleeson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.10.1.39
Keywords:
immune function; postexercise recovery; cortisol; oxidative burst; degranulation
In Print:
Volume 10: Issue 1
Page Range:
39–50
Restricted access

Recent studies have shown that neutrophils can utilize glutamine and that glutamine supplementation can improve neutrophil function in postoperative and burn patients. The present study investigated the influence of oral glutamine supplementation on stimulated neutrophil degranulation and oxidative burst activity following prolonged exercise. Subjects, 7 well-trained men, reported to the laboratory following an overnight fast and cycled for 2 hrs at 60% VO2max on two occasions a week apart. They were randomly assigned to either a glutamine or placebo treatment. For both trials, subjects consumed a sugar-free lemon drink at 15-min intervals until 90 minutes, then a lemon flavored glutamine drink (GLN) or sugar-free lemon drink (PLA) was consumed at 15-min intervals for the remaining exercise and the 2-hr recovery period. Venous blood samples were taken pre-, during, and postexercise. Glutamine supplementation had no effect on the magnitude of postexercise leukocytosis, the plasma elastase concentration following exercise (which increased in both trials), or the plasma elastase release in response to bacterial stimulation (which fell in both trials). Neutrophil function assessed by oxidative burst activity of isolated cells did not change following exercise in either trial. These findings therefore suggest that the fall in plasma glutamine concentration does not account for the decrease in neutrophil function (degranulation response) following prolonged exercise.

Neil P. Walsh is with the Sport, Health and Leisure Dept., Trinity and All Saints University College, Leeds. LSI8 5HD England. The other authors are with the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT England. Direct all correspondence to Prof. Michael Gleeson.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

Cover International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2486 848 162
Full Text Views 72 4 3
PDF Downloads 23 7 4