Enteral Glutamine Increases Growth and Absorptive Capacity of Intestinal Mucosa in the Malnourished Rat

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Abstract
Glutamine is an important nutrient for the small intestine. Beneficial effects of glutamine could be related to restoration of optimal intestinal barrier functions.Thirty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to three main groups. Experimental groups (n = 22) were malnourished and laparotomized. Sham groups (n = 11) were laparotomized without prior malnutrition. These groups were refed with or without oral glutamine for 3 days. The control group (n = 5) was given chow. Permeability was assessed by the 6-h urinary recovery of orally given polyethylene glycols, PEG 400/1000. Mucosal proliferation was estimated by DNA content and 1-h incorporation of 3H-thymidine intravenously.In the malnourished groups glutamine resulted in higher thymidine incorporation (p < 0.05) and better absorption of small PEG molecules (p < 0.05).The effects of oral glutamine on permeability after malnourishment and laparotomy are proposed to be related to an increase in absorptive area.