Gut Function Clinical Trial
Official title:
Can Preoperative Oral Glutamine Facilitate Earlier Return of Gut Function in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery. A Prospective Randomized Trial.
The gastrointestinal tract has many functionsÍž it provides nutrition, produces hormones,
performs a barrier function, maintains a stable gastrointestinal micro flora and plays an
important role in the inflammatory process as it is the largest producer of cytokines
(proteins associated with inflammation). This gut function is impaired after colorectal
(bowel) surgery. There is evidence to suggest that impaired gut function is associated with
increased complications. Hence if gut function is preserved, it should equate with better
outcomes. As a result, there has been increasing interest in treatments called Gut Specific
Nutrients (GSN), which specifically target gut function. Most notable of them is Glutamine,
a conditionally essential amino acid and preferred fuel source for intestinal cells.
Research has shown that glutamine promotes cell growth, increases clearance of harmful
organisms from the blood, and reduces the surgical stress response. In other words,
glutamine has a favourable influence on gut function.
Recent studies from our unit using intravenous glutamine in critically ill patients have
shown an early return of gut function, which in turn is associated with attenuation of the
inflammatory response and improved outcomes. It is not known whether oral glutamine is
associated with a similar outcome. A recent pilot study at our unit suggests an association
between oral glutamine and early return of gut function. The aim of this research is to
determine if giving oral glutamine results in an early return of gut function and whether
this is associated with an attenuation of the systemic inflammatory response.
n/a
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator)
| Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not yet recruiting |
NCT06444139 -
Probiotic Intervention for Occasional Constipation
|
N/A | |
| Recruiting |
NCT05155449 -
Probiotic Intervention for Gut Function
|
N/A |