Addition of glutamine to total parenteral nutrition after elective abdominal surgery spares free glutamine in muscle, counteracts the fall in muscle protein synthesis, and improves nitrogen balance.

摘要: Twenty-two patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were given total parenteral nutrition (TPN) after the operation. The TPN contained either a conventional amino acid solution supplemented with glutamine or without supplementation. To study and protein metabolism, muscle biopsy specimens taken before on third postoperative day. decrease in intracellular concentration of free was less pronounced group (21.8 +/- 5.5%) than control (38.7 5.1%; p 0.05). synthesis reflected size distribution ribosomes. No significant changes these parameters seen In group, ribosomes fell by 27.2 8.5% (p 0.05), relative proportion polyribosomes 10.6 2.9% 0.01). Although there no differences between two groups detected. cumulative nitrogen loss significantly as compared to during period studied--2.3 1.4 g versus 8.5 1.5 g, respectively Administration catabolic is advocated.