L-glutamine acts as a major metabolic fuel for the small intestine. If the intestine loses its integrity (that is, its ability to absorb nutrients selectively) the bacteria present there may translocate. That means bacteria that normally provide a beneficial function when they reside in the intestine suddenly travel through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and throughout the body, causing serious infection.L-glutamine prevents this from happening. That’s why researchers in hospitals began supplementing some of their oral and tube-feeding formulas with this substance to keep the small intestines of seriously ill patients from breaking down.

L-glutamine