American journal of surgery
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Clinical studies have shown that enteral immune-enhancing diets (IEDs) containing l-glutamine decrease septic complications and length of stay in some patient populations. Animal studies suggest IED benefits might include augmented gut blood flow. We hypothesized that enteral glutamine supplementation modulates gastrointestinal blood flow. ⋯ Enteral glutamine supplementation (as in IEDs) appears to impair gastrointestinal blood flow. Because glutamine provides energy directly to active enterocytes, enteral glutamine availability might diminish metabolic stimuli of absorptive hyperemia. This finding might partially explain the benefits observed with parenteral versus enteral glutamine supplementation in clinical studies (such as bone-marrow-transplant patients).