Effect of an exhaustive exercise and short-term glutamine supplementation on serum hs-CRP, in non-athlete males

The reduced blood glutamine levels induced by stressful situations such as injuries, starvation and exercise training, result in immune system weakness. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the effect of an exhaustive exercise and short-term glutamine supplementation on serum hs-CRP in nonathlete men.

Twenty healthy male subjects (age, 21.0±1.68 years; BMI, 22.32±7.53 Kg/m2) in a semi-experimental, double-blind, placebo-controlled design were randomly divided into two homogenized groups (Glutamine: n=10 and control: n=10). After taking the first blood sample subjects received either glutamine supplement (5 g in 300 ml of water) or placebo (5% sucrose and 0.15% lemon flavor to enhance the taste) one hour before exhaustive exercise (shuttle run test). The second blood sample was taken one hour after the test. Serum hs-CRP concentrations were determined quantitatively by an ELISA kit.

Data (mean±SD) were statistically analyzed by using the depended and independed t-test at significant level of P<0.05. The results indicated that hs-CRP content was significantly increased (P<0.001) in control group (164%) while, elevation in hs-CRP (55%) for glutamine group was not significant (P>0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences between groups for Hs-CRP mean and range of changes after the exercise protocol (P<0.001).

In conclusion, acute short-term glutamine supplementation could have beneficial effect on serum hs-CRP or inflammation. However, for making a firm conclusion in this regard further studies are needed.