PARENTERAL GLUTAMINE SUPPLY IN INTENSIVE-CARE PATIENTS

Glutamine, an abundant amino acid, has many metabolic roles that prote ct tissue integrity and enhance the immune system. Low plasma and tiss ue levels of glutamine in the critically-ill suggest that demand may e xceed endogenous supply and with the profound muscle wasting that occu rs this supply of gluatmine may become critical to survival. The very sickest patients who are unable to tolerate enteral feeding are solely dependent on conventional parenteral nutrition which does not contain glutamine. This short review, drawing upon a recent double blind rand omised clinical six month outcome study, provides the rationale to sug gest that parenteral glutamine supply in these very sick patients may improve recovery and reduce late mortality.