Glutamine and Gastrointestinal Neoplasms: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54167/tch.v20i1.2247Keywords:
glutamine, gastrointestinal neoplasms, immunonutrition, postoperative complications, malnutritionAbstract
This review analyzes the clinical and immunological impact of glutamine supplementation in gastrointestinal malignancies, where malnutrition affects up to 80 % of patients. A literature search (2021–2026) was conducted to evaluate clinical trials, cohort studies and systematic reviews with meta-analyses in adults. The results suggest that enteral or oral administration exerts a cytoprotective effect associated with a reduction in the severity of chemotherapy- and radio-induced diarrhea and mucositis, without showing an effect on symptoms such as nausea or vomiting. In the surgical setting, perioperative supplementation attenuated the decrease in albumin and prealbumin levels and was linked to a lower incidence of anastomotic fistulas and infections, and reduced hospital stay by between half a day and almost four days, particularly in colorectal conditions; however, it did not appear to modify overall survival rates. It is concluded that, although glutamine appears to significantly mitigate acute morbidity and toxicity from treatment, the diversity of results in the current literature highlights the need to design personalized protocols that define ideal doses, routes and times of administration by tumor type.
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