Prevention of Radiogenic Side Effects Using Glutamine-Enriched Elemental Diets

Abstract

In work from our laboratory we have demonstrated that the provision of a glutamine-enriched diet before or after whole abdominal radiation has a radioprotective effect. A major side effect of abdominal and pelvic radiation is injury to the bowel. Radiation enteritis affects a significant number of patients and is associated with complications such as bloody diarrhea, bowel perforation, and stricture whicy may increase mortality. The mucosal injury is characterized by destruction of proliferative crypt cells, a decrease in villous height, and ulceration of the gut mucosa. The morbidity, mortality, and cost associated with treatment of the complications of radiation enteritis are substantial, and thus any therapy that would protect the gut from radiation injury or accelerate healing of the radiated gut and/or decrease complications would be beneficial.