Effect of glutamine in short-bowel syndrome

Background and Aims: Animal studies have reported positive effects of glutamine on intestinal absorption and morphology; human studies have been less convincing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of glutamine and diet on intestinal morphology, motility, and absorption. Methods: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in 8 patients with short-bowel on a high carbohydrate, low fat (HCLF) diet, was performed. Active treatment was oral glutamine (0.45 g kg(-1) day(-1)) for eight weeks. Intestinal morphology was evaluated by light microscopy. Gastrointestinal transit was measured by dual gamma camera scintigraphy. D-xylose and fecal fat collection was used to evaluate intestinal absorption. Results of active treatment versus placebo were compared by the signed-rank test. Results: Morphology analysis, reported as median active treatment versus placebo, was villus height: 0.48 mm versus 0.50 mm, P = 1.0, and crypt depth: 0.11 mm versus 0.10 mm, P = 0.469. Percent D-xylose absorption, reported as median active treatment versus placebo, was 7% versus 10.5%, P = 0.109. There was not a significant difference in wet weight or fat absorption compared to placebo, P> 0.05. Likewise, gastrointestinal transit was not different compared to placebo. Conclusions.-The results of this controlled study would support that 8 weeks of treatment with oral glutamine and a HCLF diet does not significantly improve intestinal morphology, gastrointestinal transit, D-xylose absorption and stool losses in short bowel patients. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.