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Protective effect of parenteral glutamine supplementation on hepatic function in very low birth weight infants

Ying Wang1, Ye-Xuan Tao, Wei Cai

  • 1Clinical Nutrition Center, Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.

Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|April 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Parenteral glutamine supplementation improved liver function in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants receiving parenteral nutrition. This suggests glutamine offers a hepato-protective effect for vulnerable newborns.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Hepatic dysfunction is a common complication of parenteral nutrition (PN), particularly in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants due to their physiological immaturity.
  • Animal studies indicate that glutamine supplementation may mitigate TPN-associated liver injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of parenteral glutamine supplementation in enhancing hepatic tolerance in VLBW infants.
  • To determine if glutamine administration can reduce liver injury markers in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 30 VLBW infants.
  • Infants were randomized to receive either standard PN or PN supplemented with glutamine.
  • Primary endpoints included hepatic function markers and mortality; secondary endpoints assessed nutritional and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

  • The glutamine-supplemented group showed significantly decreased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (Tbi) post-PN (P < 0.05).
  • No mortality was observed in the study.
  • Withdrawal rates were similar between groups, with no statistically significant difference.

Conclusions:

  • Parenteral glutamine supplementation demonstrates a hepato-protective effect in VLBW infants.
  • Glutamine administration appears to improve hepatic tolerance during PN in this population.
Abstract

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