Glutamine and gut barrier function: underlying mechanisms and clinical application

Abstract

Intestinal tract is the central organ of the body′s stress, and it has an important barrier function to prevent the harmful substances, such as bacteria and toxins, from the gut into the body.The main factors of intestinal barrier dysfunction are ischemia and hypoxia and endotoxin damage, and it is essential to explore the protective methods of the intestinal mucosa barrier in the early stage to prevent the organ metabolism disorder induced by intestinal derived endotoxin and bacterial translocation.Glutamine, which can effectively protect the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, maintain the normal intestinal permeability and improve the cell immunity, has been used to intensive adult patients and need further studies in the clinical application of newborns. Key words: Glutamine; Gut barrier function; Critical illness; Neonates