[Clinical observation of the protective effect of oral feeding of glutamine granules on intestinal mucous membrane].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect of oral feeding of glutamine (Gln) granules on intestinal mucous membrane during early postburn stage. METHODS: Twenty burn patients were randomly divided into test (T) and control (G) groups with 10 patients in each group. Gln granules and placebo were administered in a dose of 10 grams three times a day for 10 days to patients in the two groups respectively. Blood levels of Gln, diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, endotoxin (LPS) and intestinal permeability were monitored before and after the administration of the agents. at the same time, the changes in blood and urine routine and hepatic and renal functional indices were also observed. RESULTS: There was no difference of the general data and the hepatic and renal functional indices between the two groups. The plasma level of Gln before the administration was much lower than that thereafter (P < 0.01) in T group, but all of the values were higher than that in C group (P < 0.05). The DAO activity, intestinal permeability and LPS levels before the administration were much higher than those after it (P < 0.01) in T group. CONCLUSION: Gln might be good to burn patients due to its protective effect on intestinal mucous membrane when given during early postburn stage.