Glutamine Is Superior to Glucose in Stimulating Water and Electrolyte Absorption Across Rabbit Ileum

L-Glutamine is the primary metabolic fuel of theintestinal mucosa. This in vivo study compares theeffect of L-glutamine 50 mM with that of D-glucose 50 mMon water and electrolyte absorption in jejunal and ileal loops of healthy rabbits. Usingpolyethylene glycol (PEG) as a nonabsorbable marker andan incubation at 37°C, we found that absorption ofwater (P = 0.000), sodium (P = 0.002), potassium (P =0.001), and chloride (P = 0.003) from the glutamineelectrolyte solution was greater than from the glucoseelectrolyte solution in the ileum. A similar trend wasshown in the jejunum. We conclude that L-glutamine may be a useful component to be tested in oralrehydration solutions for treating diarrhealdehydration.