Sunday Sep 14, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study published in World Journal of Emergency Medicine indicates that early parenteral glutamine supplement helps acute liver injury.  The study was conducted by researchers at Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.

Glutamine supplementation decreases oxidative stress and inflammatory response, enhances immunity against infections, shortens hospital stay and reduces medical costs, according to the study report.

For the study, 44 patients admitted to the emergency intensive care unit of the University hospital were given either enteral or parenteral nutrition.  In the study group, patients also received parenteral glutamine in a dose of 0.4 grams per kg per day for 7 days.

In the patients receiving the glutamine supplement, serum HSP-70 protein and glutamine were found significantly higher after the supplementation.  In this group, HSP-70 concentration was positively associated with the glutamine concentration after 7-day supplementation with glutamine.

Glutamine also lowered serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBiL) and TNF-α, IL-6 and increased CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8.

The researchers concluded "Parenteral Gln significantly increases the level of serum HSP70 in critically ill patients. The enhanced expression of HSP70 is correlated with improved outcomes of Gln-treated patients with acute liver injury." (David Liu, PHD)

Ni HB, Zhang Z, Qin HD., Protective effect of glutamine in critical patients with acute liver injury.  World J Emerg Med. 2011;2(3):210-5.