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Glutamine in Clinical Nutrition pp 323–337Cite as

Glutamine Protects GI Epithelial Tight Junctions

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Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

l-Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in blood stream accounting for 30–35 % of the amino acid nitrogen in plasma. It was classified as a non-essential amino acid because it can be readily synthesized in the body from glutamate by glutamine synthetase, which is expressed at high levels in skeletal muscle, liver, brain and stomach tissue. Intracellular concentration of l-glutamine ranges from 2 to 20 mM, and its concentration in the extracellular fluid varies from 0.5 to 0.8 mM. Under conditions of extreme physical exertion, trauma and severe infections, the rate of utilization of glutamine is more than its rate of synthesis, resulting in a significant decline in plasma glutamine concentration. Glutamine is an essential fuel for the gastrointestinal tract. It is required for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids and antioxidants, such as glutathione, and involved in the maintenance of acid–base balance with the release of ammonia during its metabolism. Under conditions of reduced plasma glutamine concentration, body depends on the exogenous glutamine to meet its requirements. Therefore, l-glutamine now is reclassified as a conditionally essential amino acid.

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Acknowledgements

Preparation of this article and some of the studies discussed in it are supported by the National Institutes of Health grants: DK55532 and AA12307.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 894 Union Avenue, Nash 426, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA

    RadhaKrishna Rao Ph.D., A.G.A.F. & Kamaljit Chaudhry Ph.D.

Authors
  1. RadhaKrishna Rao Ph.D., A.G.A.F.
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  2. Kamaljit Chaudhry Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to RadhaKrishna Rao Ph.D., A.G.A.F. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Rao, R., Chaudhry, K. (2015). Glutamine Protects GI Epithelial Tight Junctions. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Glutamine in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1932-1_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1932-1_25

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1931-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1932-1

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