Effect of Glutamine-Enriched, Elemental Diet on Regeneration of Residual Small Bowel Mucosa and Hepatic Steatosis Following Massive Bowel Resection.

Abstract

The effect of an orally administered, glutamine-enriched, elemental diet on the regeneration of small bowel mucosa and hepatic steatosis following massive small bowel resection was examined by determination of the levels of the bromodeoxyuridine labelling indices, alkaline phosphatase activity in the residual jejunal mucosa, and histological change of the liver. The serum glutamine level was significantly higher in the glutamine-enriched diet group than in the glutamine-free diet group, as were the alkaline phosphatase activity in the homogenate of the residual jejunal mucosa and the bromodeoxyuridine labelling index in the residual jejunal mucosa. The histological findings showed that the fat infiltration in the liver was more severe in the glutamine-free diet group than in the glutamine-enriched diet group. These findings suggest that an orally administered, glutamine-enriched, elemental diet promotes the regeneration of the intestinal mucosa and prevents the liver from fat infiltration following a massive small bowel resection.