Glutamine dipeptide for parenteral nutrition in abdominal surgery: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

AIM: To assess the clinical and economical validity of glutamine dipeptide supplemented to parenteral nutrition (PN) in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

METHODS: A meta-analysis of all the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. The trials compared the standard PN and PN supplemented with glutamine dipeptide in abdominal surgery. RCTs were identified from the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and ISI web of knowledge (SCI). The search was undertaken in April 2006. Literature references were checked by computer or hand at the same time. Clinical trials were extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently. Statistical analysis was performed by RevMan4.2 software from Cochrane Collaboration. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Nine RCTs involving 373 patients were included. The combined results showed that glutamine dipeptide has a positive effect in improving postoperative cumulative nitrogen balance (weighted mean difference (WMD = 8.35, 95% CI [2.98, 13.71], P = 0.002), decreasing postoperative infectious morbidity (OR = 0.24, 95% CI [0.06, 0.93], P = 0.04), shortening the length of hospital stay (WMD= -3.55, 95% CI [-5.26, -1.84], P < 0.00001). No serious adverse effects were found.

CONCLUSION: Postoperative PN supplemented with glutamine dipeptide is effective and safe to decrease the infectious rate, reduce the length of hospital stay and improve nitrogen balance in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Further high quality trials in children and severe patients are required, and mortality and hospital cost should be considered in future RCTs with sufficient size and rigorous design.

INTRODUCTION

Glutamine (Gln) is the most abundant free amino acid in the body and plays a vital role in amino acid transport and nitrogen balance. Gln is also a primary fuel for rapidly dividing cells such as enterocytes and lymphocytes, which protect mucosa barricade and enhance immune functions[1]. Patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery usually have malnutrition and Gln concentration is low in blood due to several factors: mechanical obstruction, limitation of food intake, tumor-induced cachexia, obstruction of pancreaticobiliary, malabsorption and ongoing blood loss. Moreover, intravascular and free muscle glutamine pools become depleted in response to perioperative abrosia and operative stress. Free Gln is lack of stability in solution and intravenous adminitration is limited. Glutamine dipeptide (L-alanyl-L-glutamine) can be taken via vein and hydrolyzed into glutamine in circulation as Gln substitution. It was given to patients undergoing abdominal surgery in order to improve their postoperative nitrogen balance and immunonutrition[2]. Therefore, it is worth knowing whether routine supplementation of glutamine dipeptide in parenteral nutrition (PN) can amend clinical outcomes.

Meta-analysis has been applied in medical research to improve statistical efficiency, to evaluate the disadvantage of established studies and to draw reliable conclusions from various potentially relevant studies. It is the most promising approach for future research and a guideline for clinical treatment[3]. This meta-analysis aims to enhance our understanding of the clinical and economical validity of glutamine dipeptide for patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Identification of trials

The meta-analysis included clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The trials compared standard isonitrogen PN and PN supplemented with glutamine dipeptide.

Search strategy

A computerized literature search was applied from the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Library (April 2006), MEDLINE (PubMed) (1966-April 2006), EMBASE (1980-April 2006) and ISI web of knowledge (SCI) (April 2006). The search was undertaken in April 2006. Literature reference proceedings were hand retrieved at the same time. The subject words for the search were glutamine dipeptide in addition to L-alanyl-L-glutamine. Other useful words were glutamine, parenteral nutrition, operation, surgery, postoperation or perioperation, RCT or clinical trials. Study literature includes abstracts at least in the English language and followed by full text.

Data collection

Data were extracted independently by two reviewers and decided by the research team. Methodological quality of study was evaluated using the Jadad scale[4] and the trial with a score over 2 was included as high quality. Published studies were identified by the following selection criteria: study design-RCT, population-hospitalized adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery, intervention-parenteral nutrition with glutamine dipeptide and standard parenteral nutrition with isonitrogen and isocalorics. The following data were extracted: quantity and group dividing of patients, different doses and days of glutamine dipeptide used, and the baseline of trials. Outcome variables included: nitrogen balance, length of hospital stay, postoperative infection, immune effects, adverse events and mortality.

Data analysis

The statistical analysis was performed by RevMan4.2 software, which was provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Heterogeneity was checked by the Chi-square test Meta-analysis was done with fixed effects model when results of the trials had no heterogeneity. If the results had heterogeneity, random effects model was used and causes were analyzed. The result was expressed with an odds ratio (OR) for the categorical variable and weighted mean difference (WMD) for the continuous variables, and with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Handbook for Cochrane Reviewer (v 1.8.0) from Cochrane Collaboration was used as a guideline for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

There were 454 papers relevant to the searching words. Through the steps of screening the title, reading the abstract and the entire article, only nine RCTs[5-13] involving 373 patients were included. Other two studies were excluded because of repeated reports[14-15]. Characteristics of studies included in meta-analysis are presented in Table 1. There were 7 papers published in English and 2 in Chinese. Five studies were done in Europe and 4 in Asia. In the trials, glutamine dipeptide was administered at 0.18-0.5 g/kg per day and lasted 5-7 d.

Table 1.

Characteristics of studies included in meta-analysis on glutamine dipeptide for abdominal surgery

Authors	Journals	Year	Study design	Jadad score	Reference	Operation	Patients (Gln/Con)	Gln dipeptide (g/kg)	Days of Gln dipeptide (d) admininistration
Stehle P	Lancet	1989	RCT	3	5	Elective resection of carcinoma of colon or rectum	12 (6/6)	0.28	5 (postoperative 1-5)
O’Riordain	Annals of Surgery	1994	RCT	3	6	Colorectal Resection	22 (11/11)	0.18	5 (postoperative 1-5)
Morlion BJ	Ann Surg	1998	Double-blind RCT	4	7	Major abdominal surgery	28 (13/15)	0.3	5 (postoperative 1-5)
Metes	Clinical Nutrition	2000	RCT	4	8	Major abdominal surgery	30 (15/15)	0.5	5 (postoperative 1-5)
Jiang Z	Zhong guo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao	2000	Prospective double-blind RCT	5	9	Gastrointestinal operations	120 (60/60)	0.36	6 (postoperative 1-6)
Neri	Nutrition	2001	Multiple centers prospective double-blind RCT	3	10	Major abdominal surgery	33 (16/17)	0.18	5 (postoperative 1-5)
Fan YP	Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi	2005	RCT	3	11	Abdominal surgery	40 (20/20)	0.16	7 (postoperative 1-7)
Lin MT	World J Gastroenterol	2005	RCT	4	12	Abdominal surgery	48 (25/23)	0.417	6 (postoperative 1-6)
Yao GX	Clin Nutr	2005	RCT	3	13	Gastrointestinal operations	40 (20/20)	0.5	5 (preoperative 1-postoperative 3)

RCT: Randomized controlled trial; Gln/Con: Glutamine dipeptide group/controlled group.

Postoperative cumulative nitrogen balance

Six RCTs (involving 238 patients) reported postoperative cumulative nitrogen balance. The result was heterogeneous (P < 0.00001) and the random effects model was used because of different preoperative general nutrition, different PN design and different doses and days of glutamine dipeptide supplementation. Combined analysis indicated that the use of glutamine dipeptide had a positive effect in improving the postoperative cumulative nitrogen balance (WMD = 8.35, 95% CI [2.98, 13.71], P = 0.002) (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Effect of glutamine dipeptide on postoperative cumulative nitrogen balance for abdominal surgery. Review: Clinical evidence of glutamine dipeptide for abdominal surgery; Comparision: Gln dipeptide vs control; Outcome: Postoperative cumulative nitrogen balance.

Postoperative morbidity of infection

Five RCTs (involving 215 patients) reported the postoperative morbidity of infection. There was no heterogeneity (P = 0.94). Combined analysis indicated that the use of glutamine dipeptide reduced infective events (OR = 0.24, 95% CI [0.06, 0.93], P = 0.04) (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Effect of glutamine dipeptide on postoperative morbidity of infection for abdominal surgery. Review: Clinical evidence of glutamine dipeptide for abdominal surgery; Comparison: Gln dipetide vs control; Outcome: Postoperative infective morbidity.

Length of hospital stay

Six RCTs (involving 291 patients) reported length of hospital stay. The result was heterogeneous (P < 0.00001) and the random effects model was used because of different severity of primary diseases, different levels of operational injury, different preoperative general nutrition and APACHEII scores. Comprehensive analysis indicated that the use of glutamine dipeptide had a positive effect in shortening the length of hospital stay (WMD = -3.55, 95% CI [-5.26, -1.84], P < 0.00001) (Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Effect of glutamine dipeptide on length of hospital stay for abdominal surgery. Review: Clinical evidence of glutamine dipeptide for abdominal surgery; Comparison: Gln dipeptide vs control; Outcome: Length of hospital stay.

DISCUSSION

Before operation, abdominal diseases often led to lack of Gln, following malnutrition and immune dysfunctions. After operation, demand for Gln exceeded the supply from diet and from muscle as a response to injury. And it has been shown that intravascular and free muscle glutamine pools become deficient or depleted in response to operative stress[5,16,17]. The deficiency of glutamine is the main cause for protein metabolism disorder, intestinal mucosal injury, enteral wall permeability destruction, bacterial translocation and immunosuppression. All these increase the perioperative infection risk and hinder the postoperative recovery.

Meta-analysis indicates that the use of glutamine dipeptide could improve the postoperative nitrogen balance better than standard PN. Gln, accounting for approximately one third of the translocated nitrogen, plays a major role in supporting vital organ function and repairing wound[18]. Full supplementary glutamine dipeptide not only prevents protein lost, but also makes nutrition metabolism effective.

The study also gives us evidence that use of glutamine dipeptide decreases infective events. Gln is utilized at a high rate by cells of the immune system. It supports optimal lymphocyte proliferation, and production of cytokines by lymphocytes and macrophages. Macrophage-mediated phagocytosis is influenced by glutamine availability[1,19]. Hydrolysable glutamine dipeptide can substitute glutamine to support lymphocyte and macrophage functions in vitro. Animal studies have shown that intake of glutamine increases survival to bacterial challenge[19]. After operation, immunosuppression resulted in lowered plasma glutamine concentrations. If Gln or its precursors are provided to patients at risk of immunosuppression following surgery, sufficient maintenance of plasma glutamine concentration is of benefit to maintaining immune function. In clinical trials, glutamine dipeptide ameliorates restoration of plasma CD14 levels, improves lymphocyte recovery[6,9] and attenuates plasma IL-6 to relieve immunodepression[12,15]. Moreover, glutamine in circulation can also improve barricade function of gastroenteral mucosa to prevent bacterial translocation[9].

In those studies, mortality and hospital cost were seldomly reported. Length of hospital stay becomes a clinical end point as a surrogate for both clinical and economic efficiency. Meta-analysis shows that the use of glutamine dipeptide has a positive effect on shortening the length of hospital stay. Factors influencing hospital stay by Gln include accelerating wound repair and recovery of intestinal mucosal integrity, preventing potential delay of infection. It implies that such an approach is optimal in clinical practice, especially for severe surgeries[15]. At the same time, no serious adverse effects were found in all the included studies.

In conclusion, postoperative PN supplemented glutamine dipeptide is effective and safe to decrease the infectious rate, reduce length of hospital stay and improve nitrogen balance in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Further high quality trials in children and severe patients are required; Mortality and hospital cost should be considered in future RCTs with sufficient size and rigorous design.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Dr. Jin Wen from Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine/Cochrane Center for his technological support and Dr. Yong Zhou for providing the research references.