The effects of glutamine supplementation on performance and hormonal responses in non-athlete male students during eight week resistance training

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of glutamine supplementation on performance, and hormonal changes during an 8-week resistance training program in non athlete male students. Thirty healthy non athlete male (age 21.25 ± 1.6 years, height 173.2 ± 3.2 cm, body mass 72.8 ± 2.8 kg, VO2max 43.48± 2.38 ml•kg-1•min-1) were randomly divided into a glutamine supplementation (GL) group (n=15), and a placebo (PL) group (n=15). Each group was given either glutamine or a placebo in a double blind manner to be taken orally for eight weeks (0.35 g/kg/day). GL and PL groups performed the same weight training program 3 days, each week for 8 weeks. The training consisted of 3 sets of 8 repetitions, and the initial weight was 80% of the pre-1RM. Subjects were tested for performance and blood hormone concentrations before and after the 8-week period. Both groups increased their performance however the GL group showed significantly greater increases in upper and lower body strength, explosive muscular power, blood testosterone, GH and IGF-1 when compared to the PL group; however, cortisol concentrations were significantly more reduced in GL group when compared to the PL group. It can, therefore, be concluded that within 8 weeks glutamine supplementation during resistance training was found to increase performance (explosive muscular power, muscle strength) and improved body composition (increased body mass, fat-free mass and reduced body fat)