Glutamine: Physiology, Biochemistry and Nutrition in Critical Illness

by Wiley W. Souba

Glutamine provides an overview of glutamine physiology, metabolism and nutrition as it relates to critical illness. The book includes chapters on regional metabolism of glutamine by specific organs as well as a commentary on how the alterations in interorgan flow of glutamine are regulated during several different pathophysiologic states such as acidosis, surgery, sepsis and cancer. It explains the regulation of glutamine utilization at the cellular level by reviewing the control of glutamine transport across the cell membrane and by discussing how the major enzymes of intracellular glutamine metabolism (glutaminase and glutamine synthetase) are modulated by mediators such as hormones, cytokines and diet. It also discusses the concept of glutamine as a conditionally essential amino acid, and it review the role of glutamine-supplemented diets in supporting tissue and cellular metabolism during stress states.

109 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1992