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Glutamine and the gastrointestinal tract
T R Ziegler1, N Bazargan, L M Leader
1Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. tzieg01@emory.edu
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|January 11, 2001
Summary
Glutamine, an amino acid, shows promise for gut health, offering trophic and protective benefits to intestinal cells. While its routine use is debated, glutamine is safe and effective in specific patient groups, aiding gastrointestinal disorder treatment.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolic Support
Background:
- Glutamine is a key nutrient extensively studied for its role in nutrition and metabolic support.
- Research indicates glutamine's trophic and cytoprotective effects on small bowel and colonic mucosal cells.
- Existing data show glutamine's safety and efficacy in specific patient populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for glutamine's effects on intestinal mucosal cells.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of glutamine supplementation in clinical settings.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying glutamine's action in the gut.
Main Methods:
- Review of cell culture studies.
- Analysis of animal models for gut mucosal atrophy, injury, repair, and adaptation.
- Examination of clinical trial data on glutamine-enriched parenteral and enteral nutrition.
Main Results:
- Glutamine demonstrates trophic and cytoprotective effects in intestinal mucosal cells across various models.
- Clinical trials indicate safety and efficacy of glutamine in selected patient groups.
- Ongoing research is identifying the mechanisms of glutamine's action in intestinal cells.
Conclusions:
- Glutamine supplementation is safe and metabolically effective in specific patient groups.
- Further clinical trials are needed to define glutamine's role in gastrointestinal disorders.
- Adjunctive glutamine supplementation may be valuable in specialized nutrition support for gastrointestinal diseases.