Effects of glutamine on nutritional therapy of radiation-induced oral mucositis
1Wang Shu'an ,1Gao Bo ,2Yan Jing ,2Wang Juan ,2Yang Mi,1Chen Xiaotian,3Yang Jiayao
1Department of Clinic Nutrition Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Nanjing
210008 Jiangsu China
2Department of Oncology Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical
School Nanjing 210008 Jiangsu China
3Department of Clinic Nutrition The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University
Xuzhou 221000 Jiangsu China
Abstract：Radiation-induced oral mucositis is the most common complication of radiotherapy for head and neck neoplasms. The
relevant symptoms include oral pain dysphagia decreased diet intake and secondary infection which can lead to the interruption of
treatment and even affect the clinical efficacy and quality of life. But so far there has been no effective treatment for the clinical
management of radiation-induced oral mucositis and the treatment of patients with prevention pain and nutrition is mainly supported
by treatment. In recent years glutamine as a kind of immunonutrient substance has become a research hotspot in the prevention of
radiation-induced oral mucositis and has been mentioned in the guidelines of various countries which is currently in a stage of strong
consensus but absence of abundant evidence. In terms of Nutriology glutamine is a non-essential amino acid and the most abundant
free amino acid in the human body. In normal functioning the liver and skeletal muscle are the major organs that synthesize and store
glutamine. While the main sites of glutamine consumption are brain tissue mucosa immune cells etc. Cancer patients are in a state
of high catabolism of nutrients with an increased demand for glutamine but a decreased synthesis. Glutamine can not be timely
replenished to the mucosa and immune cells which may have a negative impact on the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced
oral mucositis. Based on current researches on radiotherapy—induced mucosal injury and the repair of glutamine on wound healing
pathophysiology the mechanism of glutamine clinical research and application for radiotherapy—induced mucosal injury were
reviewed aiming to provide references for clinical practice.
