The effect of glutamine-supplemented total parenteral nutrition on nutrition and intestinal absorptive function in a rat model

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of short-term (7 days) glycyl-glutamine-supplemented total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on nutrition and intestinal absorptive function in a rat model. Thirty Wistar rats, weighting 140-180 g, were divided into three groups (n=10) randomly. The animals received isonitrogenous and isocaloric TPN solutions for 7 days. The nitrogen was supplied by glycyl-glutamine dipeptide-supplemented amino acid solution (group G), and two standard amino acid solutions (group V, group N), respectively. Body weight, plasma glutamine level, nitrogen balance, total tissue water and intestinal absorptive function, assessed by (15-N)-glycine absorption, were investigated. Body weight decreased in three groups at the end of TPN; there was no significant difference in relative body-weight changes. There was a significant improvement of cumulative nitrogen balance and nitrogen retention in group G compared to other groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intestinal glycine absorption (P>0.05) among the three groups. Total tissue water of left thigh muscle was significantly higher in group V and group N than that in group G (P<0.05). The results indicated that short-term (7 days) TPN supplemented with glycyl-glutamine improved plasma glutamine level and nitrogen balance, decreased water content of muscle, but had no beneficial effect on absorptive function in a rat model.

Distinct Effects of Growth Hormone and Glutamine on Activation of Intestinal Stem Cells

“…The mucosal epithelium of the small bowel undergoes a continuous process of proliferation and differentiation, and the administration of GH and GLN might induce complex interactions to affect this process . The interactions between GH and GLN were speculated to be dependent on multiple factors such as the dose or concentration, route of administration, treatment duration, and treatment sequence of GH and GLN . The dose/concentration of GH and GLN may affect the results we report; however, the doses/concentrations of GH and GLN we used for in vitro and in vivo studies were chosen according to previous reports .…”

“…[1][2][3][4] Both oral administration and parenteral supplementation of GLN can prevent the mucosal atrophy, promote DNA and protein synthesis in intestinal epithelial cells, increase mucosa weight, and protect mucosal cells from apoptosis in rats. [5][6][7][8] Transgenic mice over-expressing GH showed greater body weight and intestinal weight than control mice. 9 Clinical trials for patients with SBS also revealed that GH increases intestinal absorption of energy, nitrogen, carbohydrates, and fat and helps earlier weaning from PN.…”

“…Growth hormone (GH) and glutamine (GLN) have been suggested for the management of patients undergoing intestinal rehabilitation, especially those with short bowel syndrome (SBS) and in need of parenteral nutrition (PN) . Both oral administration and parenteral supplementation of GLN can prevent the mucosal atrophy, promote DNA and protein synthesis in intestinal epithelial cells, increase mucosa weight, and protect mucosal cells from apoptosis in rats . Transgenic mice over‐expressing GH showed greater body weight and intestinal weight than control mice .…”

L-alanyl-L-glutamine ingestion maintains performance during a competitive basketball game

“…Glutamine ingestion during acute dehydration stress is reported to enhance fluid and electrolyte absorption resulting from intestinal disorders [1-3], but it's effects may not be consistent [4]. This is possibly related to stability issues of glutamine in the gut.…”

Examination of the efficacy of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine ingestion during hydration stress in endurance exercise

“…Glutamine has been reported to increase electrolyte and water absorption in both animal and human subjects suffering from intestinal infections [7-9], but not in others [10]. However, differences may be related to the stability issues related to glutamine.…”