ROLE OF GLUTAMINE IN IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES

Glutamine has traditionally been thought of as a nonessential amino ac id, but laboratory and clinical data suggests that it may be essential during certain inflammatory conditions, such as infection and injury. Glutamine is a necessary nutrient for cell proliferation, serves as a specific fuel for inflammatory cells and enterocytes, and, when prese nt in appropriate concentrations, enhances cell function. During infla mmatory states, glutamine consumption may outstrip endogenous producti on and a relative glutamine deficiency state may exist. Animal and cli nical studies suggest that improved outcome may be possible by providi ng the appropriate dose of this nutrient by the appropriate route to a chieve adequate tissue concentrations. Such an approach prevents patie nts from being exposed to some of the inadequacies of present day conv entional nutrition. The overall benefit of providing an appropriate gl utamine-supplemented diet to all metabolically compromised patients ar ises from the multiple anabolic and host protective effects of this am ino acid, of which immunomodulation is only one important facet of glu tamine's essential nature. Nutrition 1998;14:618-626. (C) Elsevier Sci ence Inc. 1998.