Published in:
01-03-2007 | Original Paper
N-Acetyl-l-Glutamine, A Liquid-Stable Source of Glutamine, Partially Prevents Changes in Body Weight and on Intestinal Immunity Induced by Protein Energy Malnutrition in Pigs
Authors:
José M. López-Pedrosa, Manuel Manzano, Jeffrey H. Baxter, Ricardo Rueda
Published in:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|
Issue 3/2007
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Abstract
The goal of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of free glutamine versus N-acetyl-l-glutamine, a liquid-stable source of glutamine, on gut damage induced by protein energy malnutrition in pigs. Healthy pigs (n=6) were fed a liquid formula for 30 days. Three subgroups of malnourished pigs (n=6) received daily 20% of the food intake recorded in control group, supplemented with calcium caseinate, glutamine, or N-acetyl-l-glutamine. Body weight was recorded, and small intestinal samples were evaluated for biochemical and immunologic parameters. Suppression in body weight gain was significantly lower in pigs fed with N-acetyl-l-glutamine than in the rest of malnourished pigs. Total number of lymphocytes, CD21+ B cells and CD4+ T cells in ileal Peyer patches were not significantly different in malnourished pigs fed with N-acetyl-l-glutamine and in healthy pigs. In conclusion, N-acetyl-l-glutamine has a moderate protective effect, partially preventing changes induced by protein energy malnutrition.