A conditionally-essential amino acid—more specifically meaning it is required in greater quantities during periods of disease or muscle wasting. Glutamine is actually the preferred source of fuel for some tissues in the intestines and your immune system, making it an obvious focus for supplementation. Supplementing with glutamine has been shown to increase your immune system activity, facilitate repair of the intestinal lining, reduce muscle loss from various causes, and due to the fact that it is the most abundant amino acid in the body there are countless more benefits to ensuring you have adequate levels available. Glutamine also appears to be beneficial for cardiovascular health, endurance performance, and has been shown to be incredibly effective even at chronic and exceptionally high levels of intake.
Another conditionally-essential amino acid that is commonly taken due to its effect on nitric oxide production – this is hardly the most interesting thing about arginine however. Arginine has been shown to improve blood pressure in those with hypertension and is required for the production of creatine within the body. Creatine is an energy substrate that is crucial for cellular energy production across the entire body and low arginine levels can limit creatine production, resulting in dramatically reduced cognitive function as well as general fatigue. Additional adverse effects of arginine deficiency include impaired immune system function, inhibited hair and muscle growth, and impaired neuromuscular function. Arginine supplementation has proven safe for consistent use at levels of 20 grams daily over a lifetime thus, there is little to no concern for toxicity when using supplemental arginine.
While not technically an amino acid, it is created within the body from two amino acids called lysine and methionine. Carnitine plays a number of roles but is particularly useful in the process of metabolizing fat for energy. Increased fat oxidative capacity results in greater weight loss potential when supplementing with carnitine in adequate quantities. Carnitine has also been shown to generally reduce fatigue and due to a complete lack of side effects, it is an excellent compound to include with arginine and glutamine to boost physiological function. Including carnitine makes GAC injections for weight loss an effective addition to a sound diet and exercise program.
