Article Review – by Cameron Shaw, B.Kin

Enhancing gut function and providing symptom relief in IBD with glutamine supplementation: a literature review

This article by Irving and Heuberger (2015) investigated the role of glutamine supplementation in gastro permeability of the gut.

This article focused on how glutamine could assist patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBD) as well as crohn’s disease (CD) and colitis. These diagnoses appear to be similar in nature as they alter the intestinal wall barrier and begin to cause an inflammatory response. This is known as permeability of the gut or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract which inhibits normal nutrient absorption. During periods of stress, glutamine appears to become an essential amino acid and the preferred energy source for optimal immune function. The purpose of this article was to confirm if glutamine can improve gut health, decrease symptomology, increase quality of life and decrease disease activity.

This literature review found mixed results amongst children, adults and animals. The article from (Camilleri et al, 2003) found ‘glutamine could have a protect effect on bowel function in IBD patients by reducing enteric permeability, optimising gut health and decrease disease activity’. However a study from Akobeng et al (2000) found that patients taking glutamine at 4% or 42% over four weeks with Crohn’s disease had no effect on remission.

In conclusion, it appears further research will need to occur in this area. Points to consider may be how antioxidants help with glutamine supplementation, how does glucocorticosteroids affect glutamine uptake and how would long term glutamine supplementation help with gastro permeability of the gut.

As a rehabilitation specialist involved in handling LTD case files, this article will allow me to better assess claimants by understanding that how supplementation can help in their recoveries.

For full details of this literature review seeing Gastrointestinal Nursing vol 14 no 6 July/August 2015.