| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Special Article |
1 From the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University, Chicago.
Glutamine is a nonessential amino acid that can be synthesized from glutamate and glutamic acid by gluta-mate-ammonia ligase. Glutamine is an important fuel source for the small intestine. It was proposed that glutamine is necessary for the maintenance of normal intestinal morphology and function in the absence of luminal nutrients. However, intestinal morphologic and functional changes related to enteral fasting and parenteral nutrition are less significant in humans than in animal models and may not be clinically significant. Therefore, it is unclear whether glutamine is necessary for the preservation of normal intestinal morphology and function in humans during parenteral nutrition. It was suggested that both glutamine-supplemented parenteral nutrition and enteral diets may pre-vent bacterial translocation via the preservation and augmenta-tion of small bowel villus morphology, intestinal permeability, and intestinal immune function. However, it is unclear whether clinically relevant bacterial translocation even occurs in humans, much less whether there is any value in the prevention of such occurrences. Results of the therapeutic use of glutamine in humans at nonphysiologic doses indicate limited efficacy. Although glu-tamine is generally recognized to be safe on the basis of rela tively small studies, side effects in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition and in those with liver-function abnormali-ties have been described. Therefore, on the basis of currently available clinical data, it is inappropriate to recommend gluta-mine for therapeutic use in any condition.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F. Strasser, R. Demmer, C. Bohme, S.-F. H. Schmitz, B. Thuerlimann, T. Cerny, and S. Gillessen Prevention of Docetaxel- or Paclitaxel-Associated Taste Alterations in Cancer Patients with Oral Glutamine: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study Oncologist, March 1, 2008; 13(3): 337 - 346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Hoppe, G. S. Andersen, S. Jacobsen, C. Molgaard, H. Friis, P. T. Sangild, and K. F. Michaelsen The Use of Whey or Skimmed Milk Powder in Fortified Blended Foods for Vulnerable Groups J. Nutr., January 1, 2008; 138(1): 145S - 161S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Seth, S. Basuroy, P. Sheth, and R. K. Rao L-Glutamine ameliorates acetaldehyde-induced increase in paracellular permeability in Caco-2 cell monolayer Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, September 1, 2004; 287(3): G510 - G517. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. G Boelens, A. P. Houdijk, H. J. Haarman, R. J Nijveldt, and P. A. van Leeuwen Glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition decreases infectious complications in trauma patients Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2002; 76(1): 253 - 254. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. L Buchman Reply to PG Boelens et al Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2002; 76(1): 254 - 255. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A Cynober Clinical nutrition: commercially or clinically essential? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2002; 76(1): 255 - 256. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Duggan, J. Gannon, and W A. Walker Protective nutrients and functional foods for the gastrointestinal tract Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2002; 75(5): 789 - 808. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
