Enteral Glutamine and/or Arginine Supplementation Have Favorable Effects on Oxidative Stress Parameters in Neonatal Rat Intestine

Objective: To investigate and compare the effects of enteral glutamine and arginine supply on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme levels in the small intestine of healthy breast-fed rats. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 40 newborn Sprague-Dawley rats born to 5 mother rats. Newborn rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Starting from day I until day 21, group I received only breast milk; group H received breast milk and 200 mg/kg/day oral glutamine; group III received breast milk and 200 mg/kg/day oral arginine; and group IV received breast milk, 200 mg/kg/day glutamine, and 200 mg/kg/day arginine. Malondialdehyde levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase activities were measured. Results: The lowest malondialdehyde levels were found in group H (P=0.0001). Superoxide dismutase activity was found to be significantly higher in group II than group I (P<0.001). Of the 4 groups, GPx activity was highest in group IV. GPx activity in group 11 was significantly higher than in group I (P=0.001) or group III (P=0.001). GPx activity was higher in group IV than in group I (P=0.001) or group III (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Enteral glutamine alone or in the presence of arginine has favorable effects on oxidative stress not only in experimental models of hypoxia-reoxygenation, but also in healthy newborn rats. This suggests that in premature neonates with insufficient oxidative resistance, glutamine and arginine supplementation may help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis. JPGN 49:85-89, 2009.