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$15.99- Our Price:
- $9.60
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- UPC: 733739000927
- # N0092
NOW L-Glutamine 500 mg Veg Capsules (120 Servings)
Product Overview & Quick Specs Snapshot
NOW L-Glutamine 500 mg delivers 100% pure, crystalline free-form L-Glutamine (chemical formula: C5H10N2O3) in small, easy-to-swallow vegetarian capsules. L-Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid circulating in your bloodstream and stored inside your muscle tissue. Each capsule delivers clean, bioavailable cellular fuel to protect your digestive intestinal lining, transport nitrogen safely across your organs, and fuel your body's active immune defenses [1, 2].
Quick Specs Snapshot
- ✓ Active Form & Potency: 500 mg of pure, crystalline Free-Form L-Glutamine per single vegetarian capsule.
- ✓ Primary Cellular Target: Intestinal lining cells (enterocytes), active white blood cells (lymphocytes and macrophages), and whole-body nitrogen balance [1, 2].
- ✓ Supply & Value Math: 120 full servings per bottle (supplying a 2-to-4-month daily routine); backed by VitaNet®, LLC everyday discount pricing for premium wellness support at just pennies per day.
- ✓ Formulation Purity: Non-GMO, vegan/vegetarian, and certified free of wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, and sesame.
Buyer's Guide & Amino Acid Form Comparison
Why Free-Form L-Glutamine Matters
In dietary protein, amino acids are chained tightly together like links in an iron bicycle chain. Your stomach and intestines must spend significant digestive energy breaking those links apart before your body can absorb them. This NOW formula provides Free-Form L-Glutamine, meaning the molecule is completely unbonded and pre-separated. It glides effortlessly across your intestinal wall into your bloodstream without requiring digestive breakdown, delivering fast-acting cellular support with zero stomach heaviness [1]. Cheap mass-market and big box store brands often cut corners with low-grade, poorly purified powders that contain synthetic binders, chemical flow agents, or hidden contaminants. NOW delivers 100% pharmaceutical-grade purity verified by independent analytical testing [1, 2].
Is This Formula Right for You?
Ideal For Shoppers Who:
- ✓ Want to soothe, protect, and rebuild their gut wall by feeding the cells that keep their digestive barrier strong and sealed [2, 3].
- ✓ Need targeted immune system reinforcement during physical exercise, seasonal challenges, or demanding daily stress [1, 4].
- ✓ Prefer small, easy-to-swallow vegetarian capsules that allow flexible 500 mg micro-dosing instead of mixing messy powders into liquids.
Consider Another Option If:
- ✘ You require high athletic megadoses (such as 10 to 20 grams daily for competitive weightlifting), in which case NOW 100% Pure L-Glutamine Powder is more practical than swallowing multiple capsules.
- ✘ You have a medical condition affecting your liver or kidneys that requires direct physician supervision over dietary nitrogen intake.
- ✘ You prefer ready-to-drink flavored sports beverages rather than unflavored plant capsules.
How L-Glutamine Works: Gut Barrier, Nitrogen Transport & Immune Defense
Think of amino acids as the tiny brick building blocks that make up your body. While your body can manufacture some L-Glutamine (chemical formula: C5H10N2O3) on its own, it is officially classified as a conditionally essential amino acid [1]. That means whenever your body undergoes physical exercise, intense mental stress, or digestive discomfort, your cells burn through glutamine faster than your liver and muscles can produce it [1, 5].
1. Fueling the Intestinal Lining & Locking the "Cellular Zipper"
The inside of your gut is lined with a delicate, single-cell layer of tissue called enterocytes. Unlike most cells in your body that burn glucose sugar or fat for fuel, these intestinal cells prefer to burn L-Glutamine as their primary source of energy [1, 2]. Between these gut cells are specialized junctions that act like the teeth of a tight jacket zipper [2]. When your gut cells have plenty of glutamine, that cellular zipper stays firmly locked shut, preventing undigested food particles and waste toxins from escaping into your bloodstream while letting good nutrients pass through smoothly [2, 3].
2. The Body's Safe Nitrogen Delivery Truck
Every time your body repairs muscle fibers or synthesizes new enzymes, it requires organic nitrogen (N2). However, when tissues break down protein, they produce ammonia (NH3), which is toxic if left loose in the bloodstream. L-Glutamine acts like a safe biological delivery truck: it picks up extra nitrogen atoms, neutralizes them into harmless glutamine, and safely transports them between your muscles, liver, and kidneys [1, 5]. In the kidneys, it releases ammonium (NH4+) to help regulate your body's acid-base balance and maintain healthy blood pH levels [1, 2].
3. Fueling White Blood Cells for Strong Immune Defenses
Your immune system relies on armies of white blood cells (specifically lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils) to seek out and neutralize foreign invaders. When an immune challenge arises, these cells must rapidly multiply and produce protective defense proteins [1, 4]. Clinical research proves that active immune cells consume L-Glutamine at rates equal to or even higher than glucose [1, 4]. Providing your body with supplemental free-form L-Glutamine ensures your immune cells have the fuel they need to respond swiftly and stay resilient [1, 4].
Daily Dosing, Timing & Nutrient Synergy Protocol
Optimal Timing & Meal Pairing
The suggested adult usage is 1 capsule taken 1 to 3 times daily, preferably between meals or on an empty stomach with an 8 oz glass of water (H2O) or fruit juice. Free-form amino acids enter your bloodstream through specialized protein transporter gates (such as B0AT1 and SLC1A5) located in the intestinal wall [1]. If you take glutamine at the same time as a high-protein whole-food meal (such as steak, chicken, or eggs), other dietary amino acids will compete for those same gates, slowing down absorption. Taking your capsule on an empty stomach ensures rapid, unimpeded cellular uptake [1].
Daily Routine & Split-Dosing Strategy
Dividing your intake across the day keeps cellular amino acid levels steady:
- ✓ Morning Fasted Dose: Take 1 capsule first thing in the morning with water. This provides immediate fuel directly to your intestinal lining after an overnight fast [2].
- ✓ Mid-Day or Post-Workout: Take 1 capsule mid-afternoon or 30 minutes after exercise to help restore muscle nitrogen reserves and support tissue recovery [1, 5].
- ✓ Bedtime Support: Take 1 capsule 30 to 45 minutes before sleep to support nighttime cellular rebuilding and immune maintenance [1, 4].
Smart Synergies & Spacing Rules
- ✓ Ideal Combinations: Pairs synergistically with daily probiotics (probiotics replenish beneficial microflora while glutamine nourishes the physical gut wall), Zinc Carnosine, Vitamin C, and Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) for active muscle recovery.
- ✘ Heat Spacing: Never wash down capsules with boiling hot tea or scalding coffee. High heat can weaken the delicate amino acid bonds. Always use cool or room-temperature liquids.
Timeline of What to Expect
Week 1: Intestinal enterocytes rapidly absorb free-form glutamine. Many users report enhanced digestive comfort, smoother digestion, and reduced feelings of stomach irritation [2].
Weeks 3–4: Consistent daily nourishment reinforces intestinal tight junctions, supports healthy gut barrier integrity, and sustains white blood cell activity during physical exertion [1, 3].
Months 2–3+: Cumulative nitrogen balance supports muscle preservation, healthy tissue renewal, and lasting immune resilience [1, 5].
Physical Capsule Profile & Clean Excipients Demystified
Capsule Size, Appearance & Ease of Swallowing
NOW L-Glutamine 500 mg is encapsulated in a transparent, two-piece vegetable capsule (standard Size "0", measuring approximately 21 mm in length). The smooth cellulose shell glides easily down the throat with a sip of water, eliminating the gag reflex often caused by large, chalky 1,000 mg compressed tablets. The clear shell allows you to see the 100% pure, snowy-white crystalline powder inside.
Natural Aroma & Taste Profile
This product is 100% odorless. When swallowed as a whole capsule, there is zero taste or aftertaste. If you choose to pull the capsule apart to stir the powder into a beverage, pure L-Glutamine dissolves cleanly and has a very mild, faintly sweet, and neutral flavor that blends seamlessly into water or smoothies without any bitterness.
Other Ingredients Demystified
Every non-active ingredient in this clean formula serves a specific, transparent function:
- ✓ Hypromellose (cellulose capsule): A 100% plant-based capsule shell derived from softwood tree fibers. It contains zero animal gelatin, is fully vegan, and dissolves in stomach fluid within minutes.
- ✓ Rice Flour: An inert, hypoallergenic natural plant grain used as a clean flow agent. It ensures the automated encapsulation machinery fills every capsule with precisely 500 mg of active glutamine without clumping.
- ✓ Ascorbyl Palmitate: A fat-soluble form of Vitamin C. It serves as a natural antioxidant inside the capsule to protect the active amino acid from oxygen exposure and maintain maximum freshness.
Proper Bottle Storage & Freshness
Store your bottle in a cool, dry, dark cupboard after opening. Free-form amino acids are sensitive to humidity and moisture. Keep the cap firmly screwed on between uses, and avoid storing the bottle in humid environments such as bathrooms or directly above kitchen stovetops.
NOW Foods In-House Laboratory Testing & Contaminant Standards
Don't gamble your health on cheap big box store brands. Many discount supplements sold at mass retailers are manufactured by anonymous third parties that skip critical safety screening. Independent testing repeatedly reveals that off-the-shelf discount amino acids can be contaminated with heavy metals, diluted with cheap chemical fillers, or spiked with artificial nitrogen to fake protein levels. NOW Foods sets the gold standard for purity with private, in-house testing that surpasses standard industry requirements:
- ✓ ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited Laboratories: NOW operates world-class in-house analytical laboratories where chemists perform over 19,000 to 31,000 individual safety and potency tests every single month.
- ✓ ICP-MS Heavy Metal Testing (Parts-Per-Billion Precision): Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), every batch of raw material is screened for toxic heavy metals—including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury—to ensure levels easily clear strict California Proposition 65 and USP safety standards.
- ✓ HPLC Molecular Potency & Identity Verification: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) verifies that each capsule delivers 100% pure L-enantiomer free-form glutamine, guaranteeing zero synthetic impurities or industrial chemical byproducts.
- ✓ Microbiological Pathogen Bio-Screening: Every lot undergoes strict microbial culture analysis to confirm total absence of harmful pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside strict yeast and mold safety limits.
- ✓ Audited cGMP Manufacturing: NOW facilities are independently audited and certified by UL Solutions and maintain an "A-rated" Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) registration through the Natural Products Association (NPA).
Supplement Facts & Retailer Verification
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule
Servings Per Container: 120
| Description | Amount per Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| L-Glutamine (Free-Form) | 500 mg | ** |
** Daily Value not established.
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Rice Flour and Ascorbyl Palmitate.
Allergen Declaration: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Safety Caution: For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.
Natural color variation may occur in this product. Store in a cool, dry place after opening. Family owned since 1968. Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients.