Interrelationships between glutamine and citrulline metabolism.
Marini JC Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2016 Jan;19(1):62-6.
This article analyzes the contribution of glutamine to the synthesis of citrulline and reviews the evidence that glutamine supplementation increases citrulline production.
RECENT FINDINGS:
Glutamine supplementation has been proposed in the treatment of critically ill patients; however, a recent large multicenter randomized controlled trial resulted in increased mortality in the glutamine-supplemented group. Within this context, defining the contribution of glutamine to the production of citrulline, and thus to de-novo arginine synthesis, has become a pressing issue.
SUMMARY:
The beneficial effects of glutamine supplementation may be partially mediated by the effects of glutamine on citrulline synthesis by the gut and the de-novo synthesis of arginine by the kidney and other tissues. Although there is no strong evidence to support that glutamine is a major precursor for citrulline synthesis in humans, glutamine has the potential to increase overall gut function and in this way increase citrulline production.
