QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reeds, P. J. Articles by Burrin, D. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reeds, P. J. Articles by Burrin, D. G.

---

Supplement

Glutamine and the Bowel^{1 ,2}

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801 and ^* U.S. Department of Agriculture/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

³To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: preeds{at}uiuc.edu.

Since the pioneering work of Windmueller and Spaeth, the importance of glutamine to the support of intestinal mucosal metabolic function has become generally accepted. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying this role still remain obscure. This paper explores a number of questions: 1) Is glutamine essential for intestinal function? 2) To what extent does this relate to its intermediary metabolism? 3) What is the importance of glutamine as a biosynthetic precursor? 4) Is glutamine supplementation of the nutrient mixture presented to patients of any metabolic or clinical benefit? As a result of this exploratory exercise, the following general conclusions were reached: 1) Much suggestive biochemical and physiologic evidence exists that implies that glutamine, especially systemic glutamine, supports the function of the intestinal mucosal system. 2) Despite the extensive metabolism of this amino acid by the intestinal tissues, most evidence suggests that if glutamine does play a physiologic role in the bowel, it is not compellingly related to its intermediary metabolism. 3) There is, on the other hand, evidence that the mucosal cells not only utilize extracellular glutamine but synthesize the amino acid. Given that inhibition of glutamine synthesis inhibits both proliferation and differentiation of mucosal cell cultures, this suggests some more subtle regulatory role. This notion is supported by the demonstration that glutamine will activate a number of genes associated with cell cycle progression in the mucosa. 4) Despite the accumulated evidence, the mechanisms underlying glutamine’s function and the question whether glutamine supplementation uniformly benefits mucosal health remain equivocal at best.

KEY WORDS: • glutamine metabolism • intestine • glutamate

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. F. Bertolo and D. G. Burrin Comparative Aspects of Tissue Glutamine and Proline Metabolism J. Nutr., October 1, 2008; 138(10): 2032S - 2039S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Azcarate-Peril, E. Altermann, Y. J. Goh, R. Tallon, R. B. Sanozky-Dawes, E. A. Pfeiler, S. O'Flaherty, B. L. Buck, A. Dobson, T. Duong, et al. Analysis of the Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC 33323 Reveals the Molecular Basis of an Autochthonous Intestinal Organism Appl. Envir. Microbiol., August 1, 2008; 74(15): 4610 - 4625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. McQuiggan, R. Kozar, R. M. Sailors, C. Ahn, B. McKinley, and F. Moore Enteral Glutamine During Active Shock Resuscitation Is Safe and Enhances Tolerance of Enteral Feeding JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, January 1, 2008; 32(1): 28 - 35. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Deniel, R. Marion-Letellier, R. Charlionet, F. Tron, J. Leprince, H. Vaudry, P. Ducrotte, P. Dechelotte, and S. Thebault Glutamine Regulates the Human Epithelial Intestinal HCT-8 Cell Proteome under Apoptotic Conditions Mol. Cell. Proteomics, October 1, 2007; 6(10): 1671 - 1679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Murakami, M. I. Sakamoto, M. R. M. Natali, L. M. G. Souza, and J. R. G. Franco Supplementation of Glutamine and Vitamin E on the Morphometry of the Intestinal Mucosa in Broiler Chickens Poult. Sci., March 1, 2007; 86(3): 488 - 495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Drackley, R. M. Blome, K. S. Bartlett, and K. L. Bailey Supplementation of 1% L-Glutamine to Milk Replacer Does Not Overcome the Growth Depression in Calves Caused by Soy Protein Concentrate J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2006; 89(5): 1688 - 1693. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Kadrofske, P. S. Parimi, L. L. Gruca, and S. C. Kalhan Effect of intravenous amino acids on glutamine and protein kinetics in low-birth-weight preterm infants during the immediate neonatal period Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2006; 290(4): E622 - E630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Basuroy, P. Sheth, C. M. Mansbach, and R. K. Rao Acetaldehyde disrupts tight junctions and adherens junctions in human colonic mucosa: protection by EGF and L-glutamine Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, August 1, 2005; 289(2): G367 - G375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. F. Yi, J. A. Carroll, G. L. Allee, A. M. Gaines, D. C. Kendall, J. L. Usry, Y. Toride, and S. Izuru Effect of glutamine and spray-dried plasma on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and immune responses of Escherichia coli K88+-challenged weaned pigs J Anim Sci, March 1, 2005; 83(3): 634 - 643. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.-J. A. N. Lamers, E. C. H. H. Wessels, J. J. M. van de Sandt, K. Venema, G. Schaafsma, J. van der Greef, and J. H. J. van Nesselrooij A Pilot Study to Investigate Effects of Inulin on Caco-2 Cells through In Vitro Metabolic Fingerprinting J. Nutr., October 1, 2003; 133(10): 3080 - 3084. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. R. Young and A. M. Ajami Glutamine: The Emperor or His Clothes? J. Nutr., September 1, 2001; 131(9): 2449S - 2459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]