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Glutamic acid vs glutamine: what is the difference on a label?
Glutamic acid vs glutamine is a mix-up of two separate amino acids. Glutamic acid is the same molecule family as the glutamate in protein foods. Glutamine is a related but distinct compound. On the Reviralis Complete label, glutamine is second in the 661 mg blend and glutamic acid third, with ceilings of 330.5 mg and 220.3 mg.
Written by the Goreviralis label deskUpdated · 4 min read
The mix-up01
Are glutamic acid and glutamine the same thing?
No. They are two amino acids that differ by one small chemical group, and the body can convert one into the other. A label lists them as separate lines because they are separate ingredients.
Think of two keys cut almost alike. Glutamic acid, also called glutamate in its salt form, is a common part of protein foods. The FDA describes glutamate as an amino acid found in protein foods, and notes that MSG is generally recognized as safe (FDA, Glutamate and MSG). Glutamine is the one sold in tubs and capsules for recovery claims.
Reviralis Complete prints both in its proprietary blend. Glutamine is name number 2. Glutamic acid is name number 3. Seeing both is easy to misread as a repeat, but it is not one.
Side by side02
How do the two compare on the Reviralis label?
Both sit inside the 661 mg blend, with no single amount printed. Their positions give each a ceiling.
US rules list blend members from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36). Take the 661 mg total. Name 2 can hold at most 661 divided by 2, which is 330.5 mg. Name 3 can hold at most 661 divided by 3, which is 220.3 mg. The real split is not printed.
| L-glutamine | Glutamic acid | |
|---|---|---|
| Label position in the blend | 2nd of 18 | 3rd of 18 |
| Most it can hold per serving | 330.5 mg | 220.3 mg |
| Printed amount | Not printed | Not printed |
| Where you meet it outside a capsule | Protein foods; prescription powder dosed in grams (FDA, L-glutamine) | Protein foods; MSG (FDA, Glutamate and MSG) |
Position 2 can never hold less than position 3 would, if the list is honest. That is the one comparison the label does let you make.
Why it matters03
Does it matter which amino acid is in a supplement?
It matters for what you ask and what you can check. It does not change the evidence picture much: no source we read shows either one changes how herpes behaves.
The sales page for Reviralis talks about outbreaks and flare-ups. The label never mentions herpes. Herpes simplex virus has no cure, and prescription antivirals such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are the proven care, chosen by a clinician (CDC, STI Treatment Guidelines: Herpes).
Do I need the amino acids in this blend, or does my diet already cover them? Does my kidney or liver history change anything? Can you tell me more than the label does about a 661 mg blend?
Reviralis: from $49 a bottle60 capsules a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsChecklist04
How do you read a label with look-alike names?
Go one line at a time, and copy the names into your medicine list exactly as printed.
Write each name
List both amino acids so a clinician sees two lines, not one.
Note the position
Order tells you the ceiling. Earlier means a higher possible weight.
Check the caution paragraph
Pregnancy, nursing, seizures, prescriptions and under 18 are all named. See the supplement facts page.
Keep your care plan
Keep taking prescribed medicine. See a clinician for a diagnosis. Call 911 for trouble breathing, a seizure, chest pain or swelling of the face or throat.
The post on L-glutamine goes deeper on the second name, and the ingredients page lists all 18.
FAQ05
Reviralis questions people ask
Is glutamic acid the same as MSG?
Not exactly. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, and the FDA says it is generally recognized as safe as a food ingredient. Reviralis lists glutamic acid, not MSG. A capsule's blend amount is not printed, so the comparison to food use is rough.
Why does Reviralis list both glutamine and glutamic acid?
The label does not say why. They are separate ingredients in positions 2 and 3 of an 18-name blend, which means ceilings of 330.5 mg and 220.3 mg. No source ties either to any health outcome for this product.
Which one is higher in the Reviralis blend?
Glutamine is listed before glutamic acid, and US rules list blend members from most to least by weight. So glutamine weighs at least as much as glutamic acid, though the label prints neither amount.
Can the body turn glutamine into glutamic acid?
Yes, the body can convert one into the other, which is part of why they get confused. That chemistry does not mean the capsule delivers a benefit. No study of Reviralis itself exists, so ask a clinician before relying on it.
Who wrote this06
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, CDC, FDA, FTC, Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Reviralis. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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