Glutamine
Immune System Support
Pre- and Post-Surgery Health
Studies have shown that using glutamine-enriched formulas after surgery increased immune cell activity, shortened hospital stays, improved nutritional status, and reduced infections.Pre- and Post-Surgery HealthGlutamine, one of the most abundant amino acids in the body, supports the health of the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract and is important for immune function.1 Glutamine is depleted when the body is under stress, including the stress of surgery.2 Blood levels of glutamine decrease following surgery, and as they return to normal, their increase parallels the increase in immune cells.3 Two controlled trials have shown that the use of glutamine-enriched intravenous formulas, providing approximately 20 grams of glutamine per day, resulted in increased immune cell activity and shorter hospital stays.4,5 Double-blind studies report that patients receiving intravenous formulas supplemented with glutamine after surgery had better nutritional status and better health outcomes, including fewer infections and other complications, compared with patients receiving regular formulas.6,7