Enteral glutamine and/or arginine supplementation have favorable effects on oxidative stress parameters in neonatal rat intestine.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and compare the effects of enteral glutamine and arginine supply on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme levels in the small intestine of healthy breast-fed rats.


METHODS
The study comprised 40 newborn Sprague-Dawley rats born to 5 mother rats. Newborn rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Starting from day 1 until day 21, group I received only breast milk; group II received breast milk and 200 mg/kg/day oral glutamine; group III received breast milk and 200 mg/kg/day oral arginine; and group IV received breast milk, 200 mg/kg/day glutamine, and 200 mg/kg/day arginine. Malondialdehyde levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase activities were measured.


RESULTS
The lowest malondialdehyde levels were found in group II (P = 0.0001). Superoxide dismutase activity was found to be significantly higher in group II than group I (P < 0.001). Of the 4 groups, GPx activity was highest in group IV. GPx activity in group II was significantly higher than in group I (P = 0.001) or group III (P = 0.001). GPx activity was higher in group IV than in group I (P = 0.001) or group III (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Enteral glutamine alone or in the presence of arginine has favorable effects on oxidative stress not only in experimental models of hypoxia-reoxygenation, but also in healthy newborn rats. This suggests that in premature neonates with insufficient oxidative resistance, glutamine and arginine supplementation may help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis.
Kul
Mustafa
M
Department of Pediatrics, GATA Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey. drmustafakul@yahoo.com
Vurucu
Sabahattin
S
Demirkaya
Erkan
E
Tunc
Turan
T
Aydinoz
Seçil
S
Meral
Cihan
C
Kesik
Vural
V
Alpay
Faruk
F
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D005973:Glutamine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D001120:Arginine; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase