J. Schroder et al., GLUTAMINE DIPEPTIDE-SUPPLEMENTED PARENTERAL-NUTRITION REVERSES GUT ATROPHY, DISACCHARIDASE ENZYME-ACTIVITY, AND ABSORPTION IN RATS, JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition, 19(6), 1995, pp. 502-506
Background: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is associated with intest
inal atrophy and dysfunction possibly attributed to the absence of the
nonessential amino acid glutamine from commercially available TPN sol
utions because of the instability of the monoamino acid during heat st
erilization and storage. The use of stable dipeptides may overcome thi
s problem. In this study we tested the hypothesis that glutamine dipep
tide supplementation with alanyl-L-glutamine during TPN for 10 days wo
uld reverse small bowel atrophy and TPN-induced dysfunction in rats. M
ethods: A conventional TPN solution (250 kcal/kg bw) was compared with
an isocaloric and isonitrogenous TPN supplemented with alanyl-L-gluta
mine dipeptide. A food-fed control group was included (n = 6 each grou
p). Jejunum mucosal architecture, absorption of water and glucose, and
disaccharidase activity of maltase and alkaline phosphatase were eval
uated. Results: TPN-induced villous atrophy, significantly reduced abs
orption rate, and decreased activity of villous enzymes, compared with
the TPN group, could be reversed by supplementation of glutamine dipe
ptide alanyl-L-glutamine to parenteral nutrition solutions with no dif
ference to the control group. Conclusions: Glutamine dipeptide-enriche
d parenteral nutrition preserves mucosal structure and reversed atroph
y-associated dysfunction.