Glutamine as an immunonutrient

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Immunology
• Metabolic Medicine

Background:

• Hospitalized patients frequently suffer from malnutrition and compromised immune function.
• Immune-enhancing nutrients (immunonutrients) possess immunological and pharmacological properties.
• Supplementation is crucial for patients with immunodeficiency, severe infections, and malnutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the physiological roles of glutamine.
• To discuss optimal glutamine administration (mode and dose).
• To examine disease state improvements following glutamine supplementation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on glutamine's role in critical illness.
• Analysis of studies on immunonutrient supplementation.
• Discussion of clinical assimilation of immunonutrition.

Main Results:

• Glutamine is conditionally essential during severe metabolic stress due to depletion from muscle stores.
• Specific immunonutrients include arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, nucleotides, beta-carotene, and branched-chain amino acids.
• Glutamine supplementation may improve outcomes in various patient populations.

Conclusions:

• Immunonutrients, particularly glutamine, offer potential benefits for diverse patient groups.
• Despite limited clinical assimilation beyond nutritionists, immunonutrition holds promise.
• Further integration of immunonutrition into clinical practice is warranted.