title: Effect of oral glutamine administration on oxidative stress, morbidity and mortality in critically ill surgical patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of enteral administration of glutamine in patients with peritonitis or abdominal trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, interventional, observer-blind, randomized clinical trial, 120 patients, aged 18-60 years, were randomized to receive either enteral glutamine 45 g/day for 5 days in addition to standard care (n=63; group A) or standard care alone (n=57; group B). Surgical intervention was done as needed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were comparable for sex and severity of illness scores. Following treatment, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in group A increased from 4.4 (8.0) to 7.2 (4.8) mmol/mL, whereas those in group B decreased from 3.9 (4.9) to 3.1 (5.0) mmol/mL; these changes were not statistically significant. Reduced glutathione levels increased from 0.03 (0.04) to 0.06 (0.12) mg/g Hb (p=0.032) after treatment in group A and from 0.03 (0.03) to 0.05 (0.04) mg/g Hb (p=0.001) in group B. Infectious complications were equally frequent in the two groups (group A: 44; group B: 37; p=0.571). Survival rate and duration of hospital stay were also comparable in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enteral glutamine supplementation offers no advantage in patients with peritonitis or abdominal trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi 110 095, India. drskg_15@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Ritesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Suman Bala
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Bhupendra Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine