Effects of Parenteral Glutamine Supplementation on Endocan Levels in Septic Patients

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of parenteral Glutamine (Gln) supplementation on Endocan levels in patients with sepsis receiving parenteral nutrition.
METHODS: A total of 60 patients with a diagnosis of sepsis were enrolled to the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups to receive either standard parenteral nutrition or standard parenteral nutrition plus the parenteral dipeptide Gln-Ala. The Gln-Ala dipeptide dosage was calculated to be 0.35 mg / kg. Demographic data, CRP, ESR, lactate, WBC, Endocan serum levels, APACHE II scores at admission to ICU, and SOFA scores at day 0, 3rd and 7th days were all recorded. The outcomes of the patients were also recorded after 28-day follow up.
RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the Endocan values of patients receiving parenteral dipeptide Gln-Ala plus the standard parenteral nutrition vs standard parenteral nutrition. Also, there was no significant difference in mortality and septic shock development rates between the two groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: According to our results, there was not a significant difference regarding outcomes of the patients in both study groups, including mortality rates and there was no beneficial effect of indiscriminate GLN supplementation. Further prospective studies with larger sample size are needed in order to make conclusive comments that there is no beneficial effect of administering GLN.