GLUTAMINE: Gets You Pumped.

You’ve been hearing it for years from bodybuilders, doctors and chemists: When it comes to getting a pump, enhancing blood flow, increasing muscular contraction quality and more, arginine in its various forms is king.

But a new German study shows that arginine isn’t the only kid in town. Enter glutamine.

Researchers examined the metabolism of glutamine, arginine and citrulline. They found that glutamine contributes 64% of the arginine production that results from a single dose of citrulline. The researchers concluded that glutamine is important for natural arginine production.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: Arginine may be important for the pump, enhanced blood flow, increased muscular contraction quality and more, but glutamine plays a central role in arginine production. No glutamine, no arginine. No arginine, no pump. It’s pretty clear that you need glutamine, so if you want to get pumped and build a bigger physique, get on glutamine! It’s best to take glutamine in four equal doses of 5 grams each on an empty stomach, four times per day – once upon rising, once before your workout, once after your workout and once again prior to bed.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87:1282–9.