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| effects. By adding taurine and magnesium, dilantin and its side effects can be reduced. It can also help expel sodium and reduce edema. |
| A key component of bile, taurine assists in Liver function. |
| It influences blood glucose and insulin levels and increases glycogen synthesis. Taurine plays a role in the proper functioning of the pancreas. 79 |
| Glutamine |
| Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood and is a free amino acid in the human body. It has multiple functions. |
| Glutamine levels decline markedly during periods of injury, illness, trauma, radiation therapy, and stress, leading to muscle wasting. Glutamine supplementation prevents immunosuppression and muscle atrophy during periods of stress and heals gastric and peptic ulcers.80 |
| Glutamine is best taken sublingually (under the tongue) for maximum absorption, or as part of a good low-temperature whey protein supplement such as Country Life, available in most health food stores. |
| There are several reasons why I might suggest glutamine to cancer patients. Human studies have shown that L-glutamine is an essential nutrient for the cells of the small intestine and is the primary metabolic fuel for enterocytes. It plays an important role in the prevention of mucosal atrophy during total parenteral nutrition (TPN). L-glutamine can prevent many of the health problems associated with the administration of TPN to cancer patients, which can result in villous atrophy and a breakdown of the gut mucosal bar-tier, promoting translocation of gut bacteria into the bloodstream and lymph nodes. By supplementing TPN with glutamine, the gut mucosa can be protected from becoming too permeable, damaged, and leaky. |
| Glutamine may be second only to glucose as a source of fuel for the body, but while glucose feeds rumor growth, glutamine does not. The body makes glutamine very slowly, and it is considered an essential amino add for sick people. Cancer patients who are in a catabolic state, causing them to lose vital muscle tissue, are deficient in both blood and tissue concentrations of glutamine. These people, especially, will benefit from taking L-glutamine.81 |
| In addition, glutamine is very important for the maintenance of immune function, particularly when the body is under stress and not getting the nutrition and fuel it needs. When a person is sick, the body will pull glutamine from |
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