Biomaterial Database

Glutamine supplementation for low-birth-weight and very low-birth-weight infants. 1998

P Y Wu

University of Southern California School of Medicine, USA.

Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid for low-birth-weight (LBW) and very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants by virtue of its ability to serve as a primary respiratory fuel for proliferating cells, a carrier of nitrogen between tissues, maintain acid-base balance, promote the growth and integrity of the gastrointestinal tract and promote immunologic responses. While adults can synthesize glutamine in the muscles and brain to meet essential requirements under normal state of health, the LBW and VLBW infants may not be able to do so since the enzymes (glutamine synthetase and glutaminase) activities are low. In addition, these infants are under stress due to conditions like the respiratory distress syndrome, acid-base imbalances, infections, and inadequate immunologic responses. Current amino acid mixtures and formula preparations are inadequate to meet the needs of these infants for this amino acid. Thus supplementation of parenteral and enteral nutrition with glutamine would be beneficial.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007230	Infant, Low Birth Weight	An infant having a birth weight of 2500 gm. (5.5 lb.) or less but INFANT, VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT is available for infants having a birth weight of 1500 grams (3.3 lb.) or less.	Low Birth Weight,Low-Birth-Weight Infant,Birth Weight, Low,Birth Weights, Low,Infant, Low-Birth-Weight,Infants, Low-Birth-Weight,Low Birth Weight Infant,Low Birth Weights,Low-Birth-Weight Infants
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D005973	Glutamine	A non-essential amino acid present abundantly throughout the body and is involved in many metabolic processes. It is synthesized from GLUTAMIC ACID and AMMONIA. It is the principal carrier of NITROGEN in the body and is an important energy source for many cells.	D-Glutamine,L-Glutamine,D Glutamine,L Glutamine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D019102	Infant, Very Low Birth Weight	An infant whose weight at birth is less than 1500 grams (3.3 lbs), regardless of gestational age.	Very Low Birth Weight,Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infant,Infant, Very-Low-Birth-Weight,Infants, Very-Low-Birth-Weight,Very Low Birth Weight Infant,Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants
D019587	Dietary Supplements	Products in capsule, tablet or liquid form that provide dietary ingredients, and that are intended to be taken by mouth to increase the intake of nutrients. Dietary supplements can include macronutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; and/or MICRONUTRIENTS, such as VITAMINS; MINERALS; and PHYTOCHEMICALS.	Food Supplements,Neutraceuticals,Dietary Supplementations,Food Supplementations,Herbal Supplements,Nutraceuticals,Nutriceuticals,Dietary Supplement,Food Supplement,Herbal Supplement,Neutraceutical,Nutraceutical,Nutriceutical,Supplement, Food,Supplement, Herbal,Supplementations, Dietary,Supplements, Dietary,Supplements, Food,Supplements, Herbal