Glutamine is an amino acid which is usually found in the skeletal muscles and it is conditionally essential where there is hyper cathabolism as in bone marrow transplantation. In these situations nutritional support therapy using L-GLN supplements is both safe and recommended. There seems to be a use for amino acid with the goal of reducing the secondary effects, such as mucositis and digestive tract manifestations, of these transplants. There are data which suggest a prophylactic effect of the L-GLN in relation to hepatic veno-occlusive disease in transplant patients. The utilisation of amino acid in combination with antioxidants either by enteral or parenteral means, are questions which should be answered through further study of selected and heterogeneous groups of bone marrow transplant patients.
Glutamine; nutritional therapy; bone marrow transplantation
