Amino Acid Supplements?: I've been... - Weight training c...

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Amino Acid Supplements?

TJB3 profile image
TJB3
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I've been diagnosed with CKD. Went from 172 lbs to 150. I was lifting 4-5 days/week until they closed the gym (thanks COVID-19) and was on 3 amino acid supplements (creatine, glutamine, and arginine). Once diagnosed, I stopped all 3. I'm fairly certain that creatine is out for good. However, my question concerns resuming the l-glutamine and l-arginine. I was stage 4, but with Rituxan have improved to 3A. Thoughts?

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Humblebee profile image
Humblebee

This is what I've found after a little bit of research.

'People with kidney disease, liver disease or Reye's syndrome should avoid taking L-glutamine supplements.'

What I've found on l-arginine is a little less obvious but does say it can worsen renal injury if you have a proinflammatory environment.

Personally I think I would avoid both and look to eating a healthy balanced diet. I up the amount of protein rich food I eat when I workout. I can't really see how protein supplements are needed, most people in the first world countries eat plenty of protein anyway. Men and women both need about 0.8 grams of protein per kg of their body weight per day. It does vary a little for men and women but I don't know which you are sorry. if you're 150lbs and we round it up to 1 gram of protein per kg for easy maths that's about 68 grams of protein a day. Nutritionists recommend you don't exceed double this as excess protein can lead to stress on the kidneys.

I think even athletes don't consume excessive protein (which I think of as more than 2g per kg of body weight).

Supplements are exactly what they are called. Supplements to an other wise healthy diet. If you already have plenty of protein in your diet there is no need for protein supplements. That's just my thoughts anyway. You could speak to your doctor if you really want to but I can't see why you would need the supplements.