The effects of high-dose glutamine ingestion on weightlifting performance

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 157
• Main Authors: Antonio, Jose, Sanders, Michael S, Kalman, Douglas, Woodgate, Derek, Street, Chris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2002
• Subjects: Adult; Arm - physiology; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Exercise - physiology; Glutamine - administration & dosage; Humans; Leg - physiology; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Task Performance and Analysis; Weight Lifting - physiology
• ISSN: 1064-8011
• DOI: 10.1519/00124278-200202000-00025

The purpose of this study was to determine if high-dose glutamine ingestion affected weightlifting performance. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 6 resistance-trained men (mean +/- SE: age, 21.5 +/- 0.3 years; weight, 76.5 +/- 2.8 kg(-1)) performed weightlifting exercises after the ingestion of glutamine or glycine (0.3 g x kg(-1)) mixed with calorie-free fruit juice or placebo (calorie-free fruit juice only). Each subject underwent each of the 3 treatments in a randomized order. One hour after ingestion, subjects performed 4 total sets of exercise to momentary muscular failure (2 sets of leg presses at 200% of body weight, 2 sets of bench presses at 100% of body weight). There were no differences in the average number of maximal repetitions performed in the leg press or bench press exercises among the 3 groups. These data indicate that the short-term ingestion of glutamine does not enhance weightlifting performance in resistance-trained men.