Effect of enteral supplementation with glutamine on mesenteric blood flow in premature neonates

Background and aims: This study investigated the effects of enterally supplied glutamine on mesenteric blood flow in premature neonate. Methods: Twenty-five neonates, aged at least 14 days and free of acute illness participated in a prospective, randomised, double-blind study. All were fed with total enteral nutrition enriched with glutamine (0.7gkg−1day−1, group 1) or isonitrogenous control (group 2). Blood flow velocities in the superior mesenteric artery were analysed by pulsed Doppler US before and after 21 days of supplemented feeding. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and time-averaged mean velocity (TAV) were measured and resistance index (RI) and flow (Q) were calculated. Results: Both groups were well matched clinically at inclusion. At inclusion, the velocimetry parameters were (mean ± SD) : PSV:114.9 ± −38cms−1, EDV:17.5 ± 7.5 cm.s−1, TAV:44.8 ± 18.2cms−1, RI : 0.8 ± 0.1, Q : 2.4 ± 1.2mls−1. Mesenteric blood flow parameters remained stable between day 0 and day 21 with same values in both groups. Conclusions: Superior mesenteric blood flow remained stable in neonates after 14 days of life and did not appear to be influenced by enteral glutamine at that stage.