Uso da glutamina na terapia da enterocolite necrosante neonatal: uma revisão de literatura

Abstract

Although glutamine is not too much studied in the neonatal unit, this amino acid is starting to getting more expression on behalf of their potential beneficial effects as an immunomodulator. The potential beneficial effects on supplementation in newborns are: increase the synthesis of glutathione potentiating the antioxidant defenses, maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, increasing protein synthesis of the inflammatory response and preserve immune function. It is estimated that glutamine can cooperate in preventing a lot of sickness, among them, the sickness directly related to the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, such as Necrotizing Enterocolitis. The fact of the Necrotizing Enterocolitis be indicated as one of the diseases most incident to newborn preterm characterized as a clinicopathological syndrome with gastrointestinal symptoms and systemic variables, what turns difficult its early diagnosis, leading to necrosis coagulation of the gastrointestinal tract. Studies have been conducted intending to combine the high power of glutamine as an essential amino acid supplemented via enteral in the treatment of the gastrointestinal system damage suffered by newborn preterm. In this literature review, were selected original and reviewed articles about the use of glutamine supplementation in the prevention and in the reversal of disease in neonates, especially about the treatment on the Necrotizing Enterocolitis disease during the period from 1998 to 2010. In general, newborns supplemented via enteral with glutamine presented a progress in the immunity and reduced the length of hospital, as well as time on parenteral nutrition, besides the benefits to promote the development and maturation caused by the supplementation of glutamine in the gastrointestinal tract and its possible mediating effects in the treatment of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. However, it’s necessary more studies in order to ratify the data found in the literature so far.