L-Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid that is essential to several processes in the human body including muscle building, metabolism, and the immune system. In cancer, glutamine has been used to help protect mucous membranes and therefore is used to treat or prevent mouth sores (mucositis) or intestinal damage from chemotherapy. It is also used to protect peripheral nerves from chemotherapy with the hope of reducing peripheral neuropathy (damage to sensory nerves that results in numbness, tingling and/or pain).

Usage and Dose

Glutamine is found in powder or capsule forms. It can be used in doses of 3 grams, three times daily. It has been used with zinc supplementation to help treat chemotherapy mouth sores (mucositis) and has been used to help protect nerves from chemotherapy-related damage known as peripheral neuropathy.

Warnings

Glutamine is generally well-tolerated, though there are theoretical concerns about its use in cancer. This is because glutamine is abundant in the human body and serves as fuel for cancer cells. Although clinical trials have not shown that glutamine supplementation increases tumor growth, it remains a hypothetical concern. Therefore, use of glutamine should only be done under the guidance of a trusted integrative oncology provider during active cancer treatment. Glutamine should not be taken during paclitaxel (Taxol and Abraxane) and docetaxel (Taxotere) chemotherapy as it may increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy.