Glutamine Supplementation for Critically Ill Adults: A summary of findings from the Cochrane Library with implications for critical care nursing

This review sought to determine the effects of glutamine supplementation in critically ill adults and after major surgery on infection rate, mortality, and other clinical outcomes, as well as to investigate potential heterogeneity across different patient groups and different routes of nutrition.¹ 

Plasma levels of glutamine, a nonessential amino acid, are lower in patients who are critically ill or undergoing major surgery. Numerous clinical trials and a systematic review have provided evidence to suggest that glutamine supplementation may reduce infection and mortality rates in these patients. However, 2 recently published, large randomized clinical trials (RCTs) did not find any benefit of glutamine supplementation in critically ill patients.^2,3  This review sought to include the most recent RCTs and evaluate all of the evidence in order to determine what impact glutamine supplementation may have on outcomes for critical care and major surgery patients.

Studies selected for this review...