Effects of distance running and subsequent intake of glutamine rich peptide on biomedical parameters of male Japanese athletes

Abstract

Plasma glutamine concentration is considered to be an indicator for immune system, and its kinetics and effects of glutamine supplementation have been widely investigated under various conditions. However most of the investigations were performed using Caucasian subjects and free glutamine as a glutamine source, and there is limited information for Japanese subjects and the efficacy of peptide-bonded glutamine. The purposes of this work were to assess the kinetics of glutamine and other biomedical parameters during and after prolonged exercises and effects of post-exercise administration of glutamine peptide (wheat gluten hydrolysate) in male Japanese athletes. The participants performed a half-marathon and a 45-km running. Glutamine peptide (c.a. 0.2 g Gln/kg bodyweight) was administered after the exercise. Plasma branched chain amino acids (BCAA) decreased after both exercises, while a decrease in glutamine was observed only after 45-km run. Intake of glutamine peptide increased plasma glutamine and BCAA, and decreased Trp/BCAA ratio both after the half marathon and the 45-km run.