Health, fitness and the supplement aisle. An independent South African desk.
Amino acids · Answer
There is no proven performance dose of glutamine; the usual retail serving is 5 g a day, and healthy adults tolerate that well. Studies on gut health in the heat have used much larger body-mass-scaled doses, which remain experimental. In South Africa, 5 g a day costs about R80–R225 a month (October 2026).
There is no established dose. Glutamine does not have a proven performance benefit in healthy, well-fed athletes, so there is no "right" amount to aim for. The typical retail serving is 5 g, once daily.
Glutamine is also in food. Whey and other proteins contain several grams of glutamine and glutamate per 100 g of protein, so a high-protein diet already supplies it.
As of October 2026, plain L-glutamine costs between R2.68 and R7.50 per 5 g in South Africa, or about R80–R225 for 30 days:
| Product | Price (retailer) | R per 5 g | 30 days at 5 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutritech L-Glutamine 300 g | R160.95–R168 (Wellness Warehouse, Clicks) | R2.68 | R80 |
| The Harvest Table L-Glutamine 450 g | R299 (Faithful to Nature) | R3.32 | R100 |
| Biogen L-Glutamine 500 g | R453 (Dis-Chem) | R4.53 | R136 |
| ATP Fitness L-Glutamine 200 g | R300 (ATP shop) | R7.50 | R225 |
A 200 g tub holds 40 doses of 5 g. ATP Fitness offers a pure single ingredient with no sweeteners, but it is the most expensive per dose; Nutritech is the cheaper alternative. ATP does not publish serving size or a sport-certification on the listing we read. See best glutamine in South Africa and glutamine cost per serving.
No. There is no evidence that bigger doses build more muscle or protect from illness. Higher doses can cause stomach upset in some people, and big doses add cost without benefit.
Glutamine is well tolerated at common doses in healthy adults. If you want to try it for gut symptoms during long runs in the heat, discuss it with a sports dietitian first. See also what glutamine does for athletes and are amino acid supplements safe long term. For ranked options, see best glutamine in South Africa.
| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per 5 g | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutritech L-Glutamine 300 g | 300 g | R160.95-R168 (Wellness Warehouse (listing via PriceCheck), 2026-10) | — | R2.68 | not stated |
| The Harvest Table L-Glutamine 450 g pouch | 450 g | R299 (Faithful to Nature (listing via PriceCheck), 2026-10) | — | R3.32 | not stated |
| Biogen L-Glutamine 500 g | 500 g | R453 (Dis-Chem (listing via PriceCheck), 2026-10) | — | R4.53 | not stated |
| ATP Fitness L-Glutamine | 200 g | R300 (ATP Fitness shop, 2026-10) | — | R7.50 | None |
Educational information, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease. Prices were observed in October 2026 and are not offers.