Glutamine (Urine)

Research on urinary high glutamine levels is scarce; however, high circulating levels of glutamine are associated with bipolar depression.

– High levels may be a sign of inhibitory/excitatory imbalances in the neurotransmitter system.

– High glutamine levels are thought to be a signal for imbalances within the nervous system.

– High glutamate can be marker of vitamin B6 deficiency.

– Ammonia accumulation suspected if low or low normal glutamic acid. Extra á-KG needed to combine with ammonia and to make up for energy deficit caused by over-utilization of á-KG to deal with toxic ammonia levels.

Low circulating glutamine levels are reported after intense exercise, in overtraining syndrome, in diabetes, depression, and in autism spectrum disorder. Low glutamine levels are associated with high oxidative stress.

Low glutamine can be a result of:

– protein malnutrition

– negative nitrogen balance

– incomplete digestive proteolysis

– other malabsorption syndromes

– chronic alcoholism.

Glutamine can also be low as a result of sample decay in which glutamine is broken down to glutamate and ammonia due to improper, post-collection preservation and handling of the blood specimen.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood and is an important source of energy for many tissues in the body. It is derived from the amino acids histidine and glutamic acid. Glutamine improves immune function, balances ammonia in the body, contributes to biosynthesis of proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, glutathione, glutamate, and GABA.