Effects of alanyl-glutamine on gut barrier function

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Nutrition Science
• Oncology Support

Background:

• Parenteral nutrition (PN) and chemotherapy can compromise gut mucosal integrity and barrier function.
• Glutamine is a crucial nutrient for maintaining gut health, but its stability in PN solutions is a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln), a stable glutamine dipeptide, in preserving intestinal morphology and barrier function.
• To assess Ala-Gln's impact on rats receiving PN and challenged with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a common chemotherapeutic agent.

Main Methods:

• Male Wistar rats received either standard PN or Ala-Gln-supplemented PN for 7 days.
• Rats were challenged with 5-FU on day 4 to induce gut injury.
• Intestinal permeability (lactulose/mannitol ratio), serum glutamine levels, jejunal morphology, and bacterial translocation were assessed.

Main Results:

• Ala-Gln supplementation maintained serum glutamine levels and jejunal mucosal structure compared to controls.
• Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes was significantly reduced in the Ala-Gln group (30% vs. 90%).
• While early permeability (day 3) showed no difference, Ala-Gln prevented the increase in lactulose/mannitol ratio observed in controls by day 7.

Conclusions:

• Alanyl-glutamine dipeptide effectively preserves intestinal mucosal morphology and barrier function in a rat model of PN-induced gut challenge with 5-FU.
• Ala-Gln demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent to support gut integrity during chemotherapy and PN.