Evidence supporting the use of: L-glutamine
For the health condition: Enteritis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

L-glutamine is an amino acid that plays a crucial role in intestinal health, particularly in maintaining the integrity of the gut mucosa. Its use in supporting or treating enteritis is primarily backed by scientific evidence, though the strength of that evidence is moderate (rating: 3/5). Several clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that glutamine serves as a primary fuel source for enterocytes (cells lining the intestines), promotes mucosal healing, and may help reduce intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), which is often associated with enteritis and other inflammatory diseases of the bowel.

In animal models, glutamine supplementation has been shown to reduce the severity of chemically induced enteritis, improve villous atrophy, and decrease mucosal inflammation. Human studies, particularly in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation (who frequently develop enteritis as a side effect), have shown that oral or parenteral glutamine may reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. However, results in other populations, such as those with infectious or autoimmune enteritis, are more variable and sometimes inconclusive.

Professional guidelines (such as those from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) acknowledge the potential benefit of glutamine in specific clinical contexts, especially in patients receiving intensive medical therapies that damage the gut. While further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed, current evidence suggests a physiological rationale and moderate clinical support for glutamine supplementation in certain cases of enteritis.

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