title: N-acetyl-L-glutamine, a liquid-stable source of glutamine, partially prevents changes in body weight and on intestinal immunity induced by protein energy malnutrition in pigs.
abstract: The goal of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of free glutamine versus N-acetyl-L-glutamine, a liquid-stable source of glutamine, on gut damage induced by protein energy malnutrition in pigs. Healthy pigs (n = 6) were fed a liquid formula for 30 days. Three subgroups of malnourished pigs (n = 6) received daily 20% of the food intake recorded in control group, supplemented with calcium caseinate, glutamine, or N-acetyl-L-glutamine. Body weight was recorded, and small intestinal samples were evaluated for biochemical and immunologic parameters. Suppression in body weight gain was significantly lower in pigs fed with N-acetyl-L-glutamine than in the rest of malnourished pigs. Total number of lymphocytes, CD21+ B cells and CD4+ T cells in ileal Peyer patches were not significantly different in malnourished pigs fed with N-acetyl-L-glutamine and in healthy pigs. In conclusion, N-acetyl-L-glutamine has a moderate protective effect, partially preventing changes induced by protein energy malnutrition.
authors.affiliation: Strategic R&D, Abbott Nutrition International, Abbott Laboratories, Camino de Purchil 68, 18004 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: López-Pedrosa
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rueda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005526:Food, Formulated; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000378:metabolism; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000494:pharmacology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C029401:Ensure Plus; C032007:aceglutamide; D005973:Glutamine; D014812:Vitamin K; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D009195:Peroxidase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione