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Abstract
We evaluated the effects of the supplementation with L-glutamine and glutamine dipeptide (GDP) on biochemical and morphophysiological parameters in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. For this purpose, thirty animals were distributed into six groups treated orally (gavage) during thirty days: non diabetic rats (Control) + saline, diabetic + saline; Control + L-glutamine (248 mg/kg), Diabetic + L-glutamine (248 mg/kg), Control + GDP (400 mg/kg), Diabetic + GDP (400 mg/kg). Diabetes was induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) and confirmed by fasting glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL. Physiological parameters, i.e., body mass, food intake, blood glucose, water intake, urine and faeces were evaluated during supplementation. After the period of supplementation, the animals were euthanized. The blood was collected for biochemical assays (fructosamine, transaminases, lipid profile, total protein, urea, ammonia). Moreover, the jejunum was excised and stored for morphophysiological assays (intestinal enzyme activity, intestinal wall morphology, crypt proliferative index, number of serotoninergic cells from the mucosa, and vipergic neurons from the submucosal tunica). The physiological parameters, protein metabolism and intestinal enzyme activity did not change with the supplementation with L-glutamine or GDP. In diabetic animals, transaminases and fructosamine improved with L-glutamine and GDP supplementations, while the lipid profile improved with L-glutamine. Furthermore, both forms of supplementation promoted changes in jejunal tunicas and wall morphometry of control and diabetic groups, but only L-glutamine promoted maintenance of serotoninergic cells and vipergic neurons populations. On the other hand, control animals showed changes that may indicate negative effects of L-glutamine. Thus, the supplementation with L-glutamine was more efficient for maintaining intestinal morphophysiology and the supplementation with GDP was more efficient to the organism as a whole. Thus, we can conclude that local differences in absorption and metabolism could explain the differences between the supplementation with L-glutamine or GDP.
Highlights
L-glutamine is considered a conditionally essential amino acid [1]
The supplementation with L-glutamine did not affect any of these parameters, but glutamine dipeptide (CGDP) promoted an increase (p0.05)
Confirming diabetes, high levels of fructosamine were detected (p
Summary
L-glutamine is considered a conditionally essential amino acid [1]. It is the precursor of peptides, proteins, neurotransmitters, nitrogenous bases and is used as an energy source by various organs such as the intestine. There are limitations of using L-glutamine as a supplement, such as low solubility in water and instability, especially during heat sterilization and prolonged storage. This led to the development of more stable synthetic forms, such as dipeptides with L-glutamine residues that are highly soluble in water and more resistant to thermal shock and prolonged storage [3]. The intestinal absorption of L-glutamine in the form of glutamine dipeptide (GDP) is more effective than the free form [5]
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