Learn about cancer's use of L-Glutamine and how certain herbs can decrease its availability. 

Written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, and Retired Pharmacist. 

Cancer cells are notorious for their rapid growth and proliferation. They rely heavily on specific nutrients, particularly L-glutamine and glucose, to sustain this. These cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, consuming large amounts of glutamine to produce amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids essential for survival and growth.[i] This phenomenon, often referred to as "glutamine addiction," makes glutamine metabolism a critical target for cancer therapy.[ii]

Researchers are exploring various strategies to exploit this dependency. By targeting glutamine transporters and enzymes involved in its metabolism, they aim to disrupt the supply of this vital nutrient to cancer cells, thereby inhibiting their growth and inducing cell death.[iii] This approach holds promise for developing new cancer...

Protein L-Glutamine and Cancer

Step 1 - Limit L-Glutamine added to protein powders. 

There are 3 major food groups our body must have: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Proteins provide amino acids including L-glutamine that are used for many functions in our body including brain chemicals, energy production, and organ repair. L-glutamine plays an important role in energy, cancer cell growth and progression. Limiting L-glutamine sources can often help slow cancer cell growth.

L-glutamine is one of the amino acids that our body can make from other amino acids. Since this is the case the first step in decreasing L-glutamine use by cancer cells is limiting protein powders that have L-glutamine listed as an ingredient. So, if you’re using protein powders check your labels and change sources if needed.

Step 2 Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent Fasting
L-Glutamine

L-glutamine is an amino acid derived from proteins in our diet. We must have proteins and l-glutamine to be...