title: [Protective effect of glutamine on intestinal barrier function in patients receiving chemotherapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the protective effect of glutamine (Gln) on intestinal permeability in patients receiving chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with gastrointestinal cancer after operation were randomly divided into Gln and control groups, and received oral administration of glutamine (30 g/d) for 7 days (n=22) or not (n=17). All patients received CF+ 5-FU chemotherapy for 5 days. Serum concentration of glutamine and urinary lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio were measured before and 1 day after chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After chemotherapy, the serum Gln concentration was significantly decreased to (535.42+/- 53.75) micromol/L in the control group and increased to (54.44+/- 81.26) micromol/L in the Gln group, and there was significant difference between the two groups (P< 0.01). Urine L/M ratio was significantly increased to (0.0453+/- 0.0078) in the control group and decreased to (0.0331+/- 0.0061) in the Gln group, and there was significant difference between the two groups after chemotherapy (P< 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral administration of glutamine granules can increase serum concentration of glutamine in chemotherapy patients with gastrointestinal cancer and can decrease intestinal permeability, maintain intestinal barrier.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. tjhp@tom.com
authors.forename: Hai-ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Chun-an
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine