Glutamine NOS - Supplements Descriptions

Glutamine NOS
(Met-Rx)

by Gary F. Zeolla

Elsewhere on this site, I discuss the possible benefits of supplementing with glutamine and with arginine. Both of these are conditionally essential amino acids. Both are purported to increase human growth hormone levels. And both are said to aid in recovery from grueling workouts. I have found much benefit form the glutamine, but not so much from the arginine.

But then, I came across Met-Rx's Glutamine NOS. The NOS stands for "Nitric Oxide Support." This product contains both glutamine and arginine. So I figured it would be a easy way to supplement with both. However, the one thing I was concerned with was the quality.

I have experimented with several different brands of glutamine, and the ones that I found works the best is Jarrow Formula's L-Glutamine or Ultimate Nutrition's Glutapure. All other brands I tried didn't have as good of an effect. Some didn't seem to help at all. But these are pharmaceutical grade, so they is pure glutamine.

However, I wasn't so sure about the quality of Met-Rx products as I hadn't used any Met-Rx products before. Moreover, the Glutamine NOS was not marked as being pharmaceutical grade. But I decided to try it. And after just a short while I could tell that it was of high quality as it helped with my post-workout soreness as much as the other glutamines did.

Moreover, since I started using the Glutamine NOS, my training has been going particularly well. I cannot say for sure, but this could be because the Glutamine NOS is benefiting me even more than just plain glutamine did. However, I haven't noticed a greater "pump" while working out, but then powerlifting training with its lower reps doesn't give as much of a pump as a bodybuilder's higher rep routine does.

However, it should be noted that it appears that Met-Rx is in the process of changing the formula for the glutamine NOS. The label information on MuscleSurf's site states the following:

MET Rx Glutamine NOS
Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size (scoop) 2
Servings Per Container 83
Calories 60
L-Glutamine (g) 10.3
L-Arginine (g) 1.5

And the product I received did in fact have this ratio of glutamine to arginine. When my doctor had me supplementing with glutamine and arginine, she had me taking 5 grams of glutamine and 1 gram of arginine, twice a day, on an empty stomach. So that's a total of 10 grams of glutamine and 2 grams of arginine a day. So she had me taking a slightly higher ratio of arginine to glutamine.

However, I checked Met-Rx's site, and the label info there was considerably different. It had:

Supplement Facts
Serving Size - 1 scoop (8 grams)
Servings Per Container - About 90
Calories 30
L-Glutamine 5g
Arginine Complex 3g
(L-Arginine and L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate)

The arginine-based compound listed last is the type of compound generally found in specific NOS products. So it would seem that Met-Rx is increasing the ratio of arginine to glutamine and adding this specific form or arginine.

I'll finish the kilogram of Glutamine NOS I have, but before I order it again I think I will call ahead and see if I can get the latter version. It might end up being even more beneficial than the old formula. At the very least, maybe I'll get the increased "pumped" feeling.

My current dosage pattern is similar to what my doctor had me do, except I'm splitting up the doses even more. Specifically, I'm using 1/2 scoop of the glutamine NOS (about 2 grams of glutamine) five times a day on an empty stomach. Basically I'm taking one dose in-between each of my six meals a day. It is difficult taking it in this pattern, but it seems to work best.

So overall, I would say Met-Rx's glutamine NOS is a worthwhile product. And it costs less than buying plain glutamine and a separate arginine/ NOS product. So if you have been using or have been thinking about supplementing with glutamine and/ or arginine/ NOS, then this product might be worth a try.

Met-Rx's Glutamine NOS is available from MuscleSurf.
Jarrow's Glutamine is available at WebVitamins and MuscleSurf.

The above article was posted on this site June 30, 2004.

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