Glutamine Protects Against Glutathione Depletion in Human Muscle

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Clin Sci (Lond). 2003 Mar;104(3):275-82.

Glutamine attenuates post-traumatic glutathione depletion in human

muscle.

Flaring UB, Rooyackers OE, Wernerman J, Hammarqvist F.

Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Astrid Lindgren

Children's Hospital, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76, Stockholm,

Sweden. urban.flaring@...

Glutathione is quantitatively the most important endogenous

scavenger system. Glutathione depletion in skeletal muscle is

pronounced following major trauma and sepsis in intensive care unit

patients. Also, following elective surgery, glutathione depletion

occurs in parallel with a progressive decline in muscle glutamine

concentration.

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that glutamine

supplementation may counteract glutathione depletion in a human

trauma model. A homogeneous group of patients (n = 17) undergoing a

standardized surgical procedure were prospectively randomly

allocated to receive glutamine (0.56 g x day(-1) x kg(-1)) or

placebo as part of isonitrogenous and isocaloric nutrition.

Percutaneous muscle biopsies and blood samples were taken pre-

operatively and at 24 and 72 h after surgery.

The concentrations of muscle glutathione and related amino acids

were determined in muscle tissue and plasma. In the control

(unsupplemented) subjects, total muscle glutathione had decreased by

47+/-8% and 37+/-11% and reduced glutathione had decreased by 53+/-

10% and 45+/-16% respectively at 24 and 72 h after surgery (P <

0.05). In contrast, in the glutamine-supplemented group, no

significant post-operative decreases in total or reduced glutathione

were seen following surgery. Muscle free glutamine had decreased at

72 h after surgery in both groups, by 41.4+/-14.8% (P < 0.05) in the

glutamine-supplemented group and by 46.0+/-14.3% (P < 0.05) in the

control group.

In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that intravenous

glutamine supplementation attenuates glutathione depletion in

skeletal muscle in humans following standardized surgical trauma.

Publication Types:

Clinical Trial

Multicenter Study

Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 12605586 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]