Editing Glutamine (section)

== Uses ==
=== Nutrition ===
Glutamine is the most abundant naturally occurring, [[essential amino acid|nonessential amino acid]] in the human body, and one of the few amino acids that can directly cross the [[blood–brain barrier]].<ref name="Brosnan"/> Humans obtain glutamine through [[catabolism]] of [[protein]]s in foods they eat.<ref name=Watford2015rev>{{cite journal | vauthors = Watford M | title = Glutamine and glutamate: Nonessential or essential amino acids? | journal = Animal Nutrition | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | pages = 119–122 | date = September 2015 | pmid = 29767158 | pmc = 5945979 | doi = 10.1016/j.aninu.2015.08.008 }}</ref> In states where tissue is being built or repaired, like growth of babies, or healing from wounds or severe illness, glutamine becomes [[Conditionally essential amino acid|conditionally essential]].<ref name=Watford2015rev/>

=== Sickle cell disease ===
{{missing information|section|(possible) mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics in {{PMID|31985279}}|date=November 2023}}
In 2017, the U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) approved <small>L</small>-glutamine oral powder, marketed as '''Endari''', to reduce severe complications of [[sickle cell disease]] in people aged five years and older with the disorder.<ref name="FDA2017Glu">{{cite press release|title=FDA approves new treatment for sickle cell disease|url=https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-treatment-sickle-cell-disease |website=U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA)|access-date=10 July 2017|date=7 July 2017}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The safety and efficacy of L-glutamine oral powder were studied in a randomized trial of subjects ages five to 58 years old with sickle cell disease who had two or more painful crises within the 12 months prior to enrollment in the trial.<ref name="FDA2017Glu" /> Subjects were assigned randomly to treatment with L-glutamine oral powder or placebo, and the effect of treatment was evaluated over 48 weeks.<ref name="FDA2017Glu" /> Subjects who were treated with L-glutamine oral powder experienced fewer hospital visits for pain treated with a parenterally administered narcotic or ketorolac (sickle cell crises), on average, compared to subjects who received a placebo (median 3 vs. median 4), fewer hospitalizations for sickle cell pain (median 2 vs. median 3), and fewer days in the hospital (median 6.5 days vs. median 11 days).<ref name="FDA2017Glu" />  Subjects who received L-glutamine oral powder also had fewer occurrences of acute chest syndrome (a life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease) compared with patients who received a placebo (8.6 percent vs. 23.1 percent).<ref name="FDA2017Glu" />

Common side effects of L-glutamine oral powder include constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in the extremities, back pain and chest pain.<ref name="FDA2017Glu" />

L-glutamine oral powder received [[orphan drug]] designation.<ref name="FDA2017Glu" /> The FDA granted the approval of Endari to Emmaus Medical Inc.<ref name="FDA2017Glu" />

=== Medical food ===
Glutamine is marketed as [[medical food]] and is prescribed when a medical professional believes a person in their care needs supplementary glutamine due to metabolic demands beyond what can be met by endogenous synthesis or diet.<ref>{{cite web|title=GlutaSolve, NutreStore, SYMPT-X G.I., SYMPT-X Glutamine (glutamine) Drug Side Effects, Interactions, and Medication Information on eMedicineHealth.|url=http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-glutamine/article_em.htm|website=eMedicineHealth|access-date=24 January 2017}}</ref>