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Glutamine supplementation in preterm infants receiving parenteral nutrition leads to an early improvement in liver

Ying Wang1, Wei Cai, Ye-Xuan Tao

  • 1Department of Clinical Nutrition, Xin Hua Hospital, Kongjiang Road 1665, Shanghai 200092, China. caiw204@yahoo.com.cn.

Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|November 16, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Parenteral glutamine supplementation may protect premature infants from liver injury caused by parenteral nutrition. This nutritional support showed early hepatoprotective effects, reducing liver enzymes within 7-14 days.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Parenteral nutrition (PN) is essential for premature infants but can lead to liver injury.
  • The duration of PN correlates with the severity of hepatic dysfunction.
  • Glutamine, an amino acid, plays a crucial role in intestinal and hepatic health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hepatoprotective effects of parenteral glutamine supplementation in premature infants.
  • To determine the timeline for observing these protective effects.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted.
  • Thirty premature infants received either standard PN or PN supplemented with glutamine.
  • Hepatic function markers (AST, GGT, AKP) and clinical outcomes were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Glutamine supplementation significantly decreased AST and GGT levels within 7-14 days.
  • Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) levels did not increase in the glutamine group, unlike the control group.
  • No significant differences were observed in overall PN duration, growth, or hospitalization length.

Conclusions:

  • Parenteral glutamine supplementation demonstrates a hepatoprotective effect in premature infants.
  • The benefits of glutamine supplementation on liver function become evident relatively quickly during PN.
  • This highlights glutamine as a potential therapeutic agent to mitigate PN-induced liver injury.
Abstract

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