Glutamine: establishing clinical indications.
Glutamine, a non-essential amino acid, is abundant in the human body and in the food we eat; it is mainly produced in skeletal muscle and acts as a major inter-organ nitrogen and carbon transporter. Its importance to the metabolism is evident during stress, when it becomes a conditionally essential amino acid when endogenous supply fails to meet increased demands. During the past 2 years, an increased understanding has been gained into the role of glutamine in metabolism. A number of new clinical studies of glutamine supplementation have shown interesting outcomes that should be influencing clinical decision-making.
Griffiths
R D
RD
Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK. rdg@liverpool.ac.uk
D001120:Arginine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016638:Critical Illness; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis
D005973:Glutamine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D005978:Glutathione; D005947:Glucose