Abstract:

To evaluate the influence of glutamine (Glu) enriched enteral nutrition(EN) on stress status and immune function under severe brain injuries. Methods72 patients with severe brain injury were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. Glutamine enriched  enteral nutrition(EN) was given to the experimental group and protein powder enriched enteral nutrition(EN) was given to the control group with equal calorie and equal nitrogen using continuous infusion pump uniform of the nasal feeding methods through a noseduodenal tube. Blood was drawn from a vein after 2 weeks and changes of stress status(C3, C4, and CRP) and immune function(CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, IgA, IgG, and IgM) were evaluated. ResultsAt the end of the experiment, levels of C3, C4, and CRP of the experimental group were lower than those before the experiment and lower than those of the control group with significant differences. Levels of CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, IgA, and IgG of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group and those before the experiment with significant differences. There were no significant statistical differences of CD8+ between the two groups. ConclusionsGlutamine enriched nutrition can effectively improve the stress status and immune function of the brain.

Key words: Glutamine; Craniocerebral injury; Stress status; Immune function