Glutamine and the regulation of intestinal permeability: from bench to bedside.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of preclinical mechanisms and clinical observations without systematic review methods.
PubMed 27749689 · doi:10.1097/MCO.0000000000000339
What was done
This narrative review synthesized experimental and clinical literature investigating the role of glutamine in modulating intestinal permeability, tight junction protein expression, and gastrointestinal barrier integrity.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative metrics or effect sizes. Qualitatively, glutamine depletion leads to villus atrophy, reduced tight junction protein expression, and increased intestinal permeability. Supplementation improved gut barrier function across multiple experimental injury models and select clinical situations, showing both therapeutic and preventive effects.
Why it matters
It highlights glutamine as a key nutritional modulator of gut barrier function, supporting its potential utility in conditions characterized by barrier dysfunction such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative data, search methodology, or study counts. Findings are largely derived from preclinical and experimental animal models, and translation to human clinical practice remains unproven and requires further controlled trials.
Cited by
- supports Glutamine supports intestinal epithelial integrity by helping enterocytes link together.