Glutamine Supplementation in Critically Ill Patients

Glutamine supplementation in intensive care unit patients is supposed to improve outcome by modulating inflammatory response, preventing organ injury, modulating glucose metabolism and inducing cellular protection pathways. Trials showed conflicting results on mortality. Heyland et al showed a significant increase in mortality in critically ill patients who received glutamine supplementation. Their results were confirmed by a subsequent meta-analysis considering only high quality evidence. Therefore, glutamine supplementation should be avoided in this setting.