Kim MH, Kim H, et al.
International journal of molecular sciences. Date of publication 2017 May 12;volume 18(5):.
1. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 May 12;18(5). pii: E1051. doi: 10.3390/ijms18051051.
The Roles of Glutamine in the Intestine and Its Implication in Intestinal
Diseases.
Kim MH(1), Kim H(2).
Author information:
(1)Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Center for Nutritional Sciences,
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
32611, USA. mhkim27@ufl.edu.
(2)Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, College of
Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea. kim626@yonsei.ac.kr.
Glutamine, the most abundant free amino acid in the human body, is a major
substrate utilized by intestinal cells. The roles of glutamine in intestinal
physiology and management of multiple intestinal diseases have been reported. In
gut physiology, glutamine promotes enterocyte proliferation, regulates tight
junction proteins, suppresses pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, and protects
cells against apoptosis and cellular stresses during normal and pathologic
conditions. As glutamine stores are depleted during severe metabolic stress
including trauma, sepsis, and inflammatory bowel diseases, glutamine
supplementation has been examined in patients to improve their clinical outcomes.
In this review, we discuss the physiological roles of glutamine for intestinal
health and its underlying mechanisms. In addition, we discuss the current
evidence for the efficacy of glutamine supplementation in intestinal diseases.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18051051
PMCID: PMC5454963
PMID: 28498331 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
