ENTERAL GLUTAMINE INCREASES GROWTH AND ABSORPTIVE-CAPACITY OF INTESTINAL-MUCOSA IN THE MALNOURISHED RAT

Background: Glutamine is an important nutrient for the small intestine . Beneficial effects of glutamine could be related to restoration of o ptimal intestinal barrier functions. Methods: Thirty-eight Sprague-Daw ley rats were allocated to three main groups. Experimental groups (n = 22) were malnourished and laparotomized. Sham groups (n = 11) were la parotomized without prior malnutrition. These groups were refed with o r without oral glutamine for 3 days. The control group (n = 5) was giv en chow. Permeability was assessed by the 6-h urinary recovery of oral ly given polyethylene glycols, PEG 400/1000. Mucosal proliferation was estimated by DNA content and 1-h incorporation of H-3-thymidine intra venously. Result: In the malnourished groups glutamine resulted in hig her thymidine incorporation (p < 0.05) and better absorption of small PEG molecules (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The effects of oral glutamine on permeability after malnourishment and laparotomy are proposed to be r elated to an increase in absorptive area.