Composition and method for providing glutamine

#This invention relates to a nutritional composition for providing glutamine to a human or animal. The invention also relates to a method for providing glutamine to a human or animal and to a method for the treatment of humans and animals requiring supplemental glutamine.

#The amino acid glutamine has many important functions in the body. For example, glutamine acts as the primary vehicle for transfer of amino nitrogen from skeletal muscle to visceral organs, as a fuel for the rapidly dividing cells of the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, and as a substrate that permits the kidneys to excrete acid loads and protect the body against acidosis. Further, there is increasing evidence that glutamine is essential to the proper functioning of host defense mechanisms and wound healing.

#Despite these functions, glutamine is traditionally classified as non-essential amino acid. The reason is that the body is generally able to synthesize sufficient glutamine for its needs from glutamate and glutamic acid. Also, glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood and free amino acid pool of the body. However, this is only true in periods of good health and does not apply to preterm babies. During periods of illness, the metabolic rate of glutamine increases and the body is not able to synthesize sufficient glutamine to meet its needs. This is particularly true during episodes of stress such as sepsis, injury, burns, inflammation, diarrhea and surgery. During episodes of stress, there is a marked increase in glutamine consumption by the gastrointestinal tract, immune cells, inflammatory tissue and the kidney. This consumption may far outstrip the endogenous rate of synthesis of glutamine. As the deficiency becomes manifest, tissue function alters, morphological changes may be observed, and a negative nitrogen balance arises. Similarly, preterm babies have a lower rate of glutamine synthesis; often insufficient for needs. Further, it is found that athletes, after intense exercise, have reduced levels of glutamine in their plasma.

#Young, weaned male rats, which are 21 days old are used. The rats are weighed and then fed for three days on a diet which contains carbohydrates, lipids and n10% casein protein and which is supplemented with 0.2% by weight methionine. The rats have free access to the diet and water. The rats are then weighed again. Two experimental diets are prepared by subjecting carob meal to heat treatment at 121.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to inactivate proteolytic inhibitors. Methionine is then added to a level of 0.2% by weight. The mixture is then formulated with carbohydrates and lipids to provide two feeds; one containing about 10% by weight of carob protein (Feed 1) and the other containing about 20% by weight carob protein (Feed 2).

#A group of rats is divided into three different sub-groups. One sub-group is provided with the casein based diet as control, another sub-group is provided Feed 1 and the third sub-group is provided Feed 2. All rats have free access to water and the feeds for the duration of the study. The rats are each weighed prior to commencement of the study and after the study. The study is continued for 4 weeks.

#The rats fed Feed 1 and Feed 2 grow and gain weight at substantially the same rate as those fed the control diet. Further, the protein efficiency ratio (PER) for Feeds 1 and 2 is determined to be about 2.95; which is acceptable. The rats fed Feeds 1 and 2 are examined for toxic effects and none are found.