Creatine and glutamine are organic compounds produced by the body and stored in muscle. Creatine is synthesized from amino acids and used for energy, while glutamine is associated with tissue growth. Both are popular supplements among athletes, particularly bodybuilders, but work differently. Creatine increases strength and energy, while glutamine is relevant to immune system function and tissue building. Both can be taken in supplement form, but consuming animal protein is also recommended.
Creatine and glutamine are organic chemical compounds manufactured by the human body. Transported in the blood and stored in muscle, creatine is synthesized from amino acids in the liver and kidneys and used for energy. Glutamine is one of 20 amino acids, specifically one of 11 non-essential amino acids that the body can manufacture on its own. It is synthesized primarily by the muscles and is associated with anabolism, or tissue growth. Both creatine and glutamine are popular as supplements among athletes, particularly as bodybuilding supplements, although they work differently for this purpose.
An acid found in skeletal muscle, creatine is a compound that is essential for metabolism, which is the sum of energy absorbed through food minus energy expended through processes such as movement, digestion of food and maintenance of bodily functions. A nonessential nutrient, it is synthesized by the acids L-arginine, glycine, and L-methionine in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas.
Humans get some additional creatine from meats consumed in the diet, meat being the skeletal muscle of animals. Although both creatine and glutamine are found in muscle, only creatine is consumed here, as it is metabolized to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main compound that fuels energy use in cells. Creatine is also linked to water retention in muscle cells, which supports protein synthesis in muscles while minimizing catabolism, or protein breakdown.
Glutamine is sometimes referred to as a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning that it may be essential in dietary or supplemental form for certain people, such as those recovering from surgery, injury, or illness. As an amino acid, it is a substance required for protein synthesis, manufactured primarily in muscle tissue, and consumed primarily by intestinal cells, kidney cells, and immune cells. In the intestines, it is pulled through cell walls and sent to the liver, where it can be converted along with glucose for cellular energy. It is metabolized in the kidneys to produce ammonium, which is necessary to maintain the acid-base balance of the body. Additionally, glutamine is relevant to immune system function, helping the body recover from injury or illness by donating nitrogen for anabolic or tissue-building purposes.
It is in this latter function that creatine and glutamine are related. Glutamine’s tissue-building properties, as well as its purported influence on human growth hormone (HGH) levels, make it a popular supplement among athletes and bodybuilders. It can also be obtained through foods in the diet such as meat, fish, dairy, and eggs, as well as plant foods such as spinach, beans, and beets.
Creatine has been linked to increased strength and energy, as creatine is converted in muscles to creatine phosphate, a substance that increases ATP in cells that muscles use for energy. These increases support the tissue building properties of creatine in muscle. Both creatine and glutamine can be taken in oral supplement form for those wanting to build muscle, although approximately 50 percent of creatine in humans is supplied by animal foods, so consuming plenty of animal protein is also recommended. .
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