Effects of nutritional supplementation with glutamine on intestinal permeability, systemic low-grade inflammation and consequences on body composition in elderly individuals

Abstract

Introduction: Recent studies have shown the central role of the gut in modulating systemic low-grade inflammation and possible consequences in free fat mass (FFM). Aims: To evaluate the effect of glutamine supplementation on body composition and inflammatory markers in elderly patients with some risk of frailty. Methods: A randomized double-blind study. Community-dwelling elderly will be recruited, distributed into two groups. One group will receive during the period of six months, the supplementation with glutamine and the other will receive a placebo (maltodextrin). Subjects will be evaluated at the start and at the end of experiment for: body mass index (BMI), the skinfolds and body circumferences, the biological fragility, body composition( by bioelectrical impedance analysis and DEXA), plasmatic inflammatory cytokines (IL -1, IL-6 and TNF-alfa), intestinal permeability and food intake. Statistical analysis will be evaluated with appropriate test according to the type of data distribution.