Cited by 1,261Clinical Nutrition and GastroenterologyAmino Acid Enzymes and MetabolismAnimal Nutrition and Physiology

Glutamine: Metabolism and Immune Function, Supplementation and Clinical Translation

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Cruzat, Vinicius, Macedo Rogero, Marcelo, Noel Keane, Kevin, Curi, Rui, Newsholme, Philip·2018·Nutrients

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Abstract

Glutamine is the most abundant and versatile amino acid in the body. In health and disease, the rate of glutamine consumption by immune cells is similar or greater than glucose. For instance, in vitro and in vivo studies have determined that glutamine is an essential nutrient for lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production, macrophage phagocytic plus secretory activities, and neutrophil bacterial killing. Glutamine release to the circulation and availability is mainly controlled by key metabolic organs, such as the gut, liver, and skeletal muscles. During catabolic/hypercatabolic situations glutamine can become essential for metabolic function, but its availability may be compromised due to the impairment of homeostasis in the inter-tissue metabolism of amino acids. For this reason, glutamine is currently part of clinical nutrition supplementation protocols and/or recommended for immune suppressed individuals. However, in a wide range of catabolic/hypercatabolic situations (e.g., ill/critically ill, post-trauma, sepsis, exhausted athletes), it is currently difficult to determine whether glutamine supplementation (oral/enteral or parenteral) should be recommended based on the amino acid plasma/bloodstream concentration (also known as glutaminemia). Although the beneficial immune-based effects of glutamine supplementation are already established, many questions and evidence for positive in vivo outcomes still remain to be presented. Therefore, this paper provides an integrated review of how glutamine metabolism in key organs is important to cells of the immune system. We also discuss glutamine metabolism and action, and important issues related to the effects of glutamine supplementation in catabolic situations.

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Authors
Cruzat, V., Macedo Rogero, M., Noel Keane, K., Curi, R., & Newsholme, P.
Affiliations
  • School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Biosciences, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
  • Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo 715, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
  • Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (BR)
  • Curtin University (AU)
Corresponding author
Newsholme, Philip
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2018-10-23
Volume
10
Issue
11
Pages
1564
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2897213700
Cited by
1,261
References
212
Citations by year
2026: 155 · 2025: 244 · 2024: 204 · 2023: 203 · 2022: 180 · 2021: 145 · 2020: 94 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
8.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Preprints.org (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Curtin University of Technology
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
Keywords
glutamine, glutamine metabolism, immune function, glutamine supplementation, catabolic state, hypercatabolism, lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, macrophage function, neutrophil function, critically ill patients, sepsis, trauma (physical injury), athletes, immunosuppression
MeSH terms
Enteral Nutrition, Glutamine, Humans, Parenteral Nutrition, Dietary Supplements

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