Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
Establishment of an Oronasal Fistula Mice Model
Published on: September 8, 2023
L-alanyl-glutamine pretreatment attenuates acute inflammatory response in children submitted to palatoplasty
José Ferreira da Cunha Filho1, Isabelle Ivo Gonçalves, Sergio Botelho Guimarães
1Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil.
Insights
L-alanyl-glutamine (L-Ala-Gln) pretreatment in children undergoing palatoplasty improved glycemic control and reduced inflammation. This intervention showed promise in mitigating postoperative stress responses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Nutritional Support
- Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Palatoplasty is a surgical procedure in children that can induce significant physiological stress.
- Oxidative stress, glycemic dysregulation, and inflammatory responses are common complications following surgery.
- L-alanyl-glutamine (L-Ala-Gln) is a dipeptide with potential benefits in clinical settings, including modulation of stress responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of L-alanyl-glutamine (L-Ala-Gln) as a preoperative treatment.
- To assess the impact of L-Ala-Gln on oxidative stress, glycemic control, and inflammatory markers in pediatric patients undergoing palatoplasty.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 30 male children aged 2-10 years undergoing palatoplasty.
- Participants were assigned to receive either intravenous L-Ala-Gln or saline as a control, prior to surgery.
- Blood samples were collected at multiple time points to analyze glucose, insulin, glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Main Results:
- While IL-6 levels increased postoperatively in both groups, L-Ala-Gln pretreatment significantly reduced the rise in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at 12 hours postoperative.
- Glucose levels showed a significant increase in the control group postoperatively, whereas the L-Ala-Gln group maintained better glycemic control.
- No significant differences were observed between groups for glucose, insulin, TBARS, GSH, and IL-6 levels at most time points.
Conclusions:
- Pretreatment with L-Ala-Gln effectively attenuates the inflammatory response in the early postoperative period following palatoplasty in children.
- L-Ala-Gln administration promotes improved glycemic control in pediatric patients undergoing this surgical procedure.
- L-Ala-Gln shows potential as a perioperative nutritional strategy to mitigate surgical stress in children.
Purpose:
To evaluate the effects of L-alanyl-glutamine (L-Ala-Gln) pretreatment on oxidative stress, glycemic control and inflammatory response in children submitted to palatoplasty.
Methods:
Thirty male children scheduled for routine palatoplasty, age range 2-10 years, were randomly assigned to 2 groups (n=15): Group A (saline, control) and Group B (L-Ala-Gln). Group A received normal saline 100 ml, delivered intravenously by infusion pump over 3 hours preceding surgical procedure. Group B was treated with L-Ala-Gln, 20% solution (0.5g/Kg), adding saline to complete 100ml. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected at 5 different time-points: T1- at the beginning of the study, 3 h prior to the surgical procedure; T2- at the end of the infusion (before the surgical procedure), T3- at the end of the surgical procedure, T4- 6 h postoperative and T5- 12 h postoperative. Parameters analyzed included glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Results:
No statistically significant differences were found between groups comparing glucose, insulin, TBARS, GSH and IL-6 levels. However, glucose levels increased (P <0.001) in T4 and T5 as compared to baseline (T1) in control group as opposed to L-Ala-Gln group. IL-6 increased in both groups during the postoperative period, indicating an increased inflammatory response. L-Ala-Gln pretreatment did not suppress the increase of IL-6, but reduced the increase of postoperative CRP levels (T5, p <0.01).
Conclusion:
Pretreatment with L-Ala-Gln in children submitted to palatoplasty attenuates the inflammatory response in early post-operative period and promoted a better glycemic control.
