Journals / Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 23 Sayı: 2

Efficacy of Glutamine Therapy in Pediatric Acute Diarrhea Patients Aged 3-36 Months With and Without Malnutrition

Malnütrisyonu Olan ve Malnütrisyonu Olmayan 3-36 Ay Arası Akut İshalli Çocuklarda Glutamin Tedavisinin Etkinliği

Bahri Ünal(Konya Şehir Hastanesi)0000-0002-1416-6808
Onur Senol(ATATURK UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-0252-396X
Handan Alp(ATATURK UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-4047-0472
Pages
306–312
Publication Date
2026-06-26
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Continuation of nutrition, prevention of dehydration, and the use of functional nutrients such as zinc is recommended in the treatment of diarrhea.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Background: Diarrheal diseases, which remain a significant cause of morbidity globally, continue to be important in children under five y ears o f a ge.
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Key Findings & Data:In recent years, the use of immune nutrients such as glutamine, arginine, and omega-3 fatty acids has increased in the nutrition of severely ill patients.
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Conclusion & Impact:Continuation of nutrition, prevention of dehydration, and the use of functional nutrients such as zinc is recommended in the treatment of diarrhea.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2012 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Akut ishal · Glutamin · Malnütrisyon

Abstract

Background: Diarrheal diseases, which remain a significant cause of morbidity globally, continue to be important in children under five y ears o f a ge. M alnutrition m ay d evelop i n c ases of acute diarrhea not treated appropriately, and the vicious cycle between diarrhea and malnutrition prolongs the recovery process. Continuation of nutrition, prevention of dehydration, and the use of functional nutrients such as zinc is recommended in the treatment of diarrhea. In recent years, the use of immune nutrients such as glutamine, arginine, and omega-3 fatty acids has increased in the nutrition of severely ill patients. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effect o f g lutamine a dministration on diarrhea frequency, duration, and weight gain in 3-36 month old children with acute diarrhea, both with and without malnutrition. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind study, 80 patients aged 3-36 months with acute diarrhea who were admitted to Faculty of Medicine Pediatrics outpatient clinics between 21 May 2012 and 24 March 2013 were included. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of malnutrition. Each group consisted of 20 patients receiving glutamine and 20 receiving placebo. The study group received 300 mg/kg/day of glutamine, and the control group received a placebo orally for seven days. Height and weight values were measured at monthly follow-up visits for three months. Past infectious diseases were questioned. Results: The demographic characteristics of the patients did not differ s tatistically b etween t hose w ith a nd w ithout malnutrition. The daily frequency of diarrhea, post-admission and total diarrhea duration were similar between the groups; no statistically significant difference was observed. In the groups with and without malnutrition, there was no statistically significant d ifference in the duration of diarrhea after admission in patients under and over one year of age, in patients under and over one year of age receiving glutamine and placebo, and in patients receiving breast milk and those not receiving breast milk (glutamine (n=40) and placebo (n=40)). Weight gain during the follow-up period was similar in the groups with and without malnutrition. Glutamine supplementation did not affect w eight g ain o r t he f requency of infection. Conclusions: In conclusion, glutamine supplementation did not affect t he m ean d aily f requency o f d iarrhea, post-admission and total diarrhea duration, and weight gain, both in patients with acute diarrhea with and without malnutrition and in the evaluation performed regardless of malnutrition status.

Özet

Amaç: Beş yaş altı çocuklarda önemli bir morbidite nedeni olan ishalli hastalıklar önemini korumaya devam etmektedir. Uygun şekilde tedavi edilmeyen akut ishal olgularında malnütrisyon gelişebilmekte ve ishal-malnütrisyon arasındaki kısır döngü iyileşme sürecini uzatmaktadır. İshal tedavisinde beslenmenin devam edilmesi, dehidratasyonun önlenmesi ve çinko gibi fonksiyonel besinlerin kullanılması önerilmektedir. Son yıllarda ağır hastaların beslenmesinde glutamin, arjinin, omega-3 yağ asitleri gibi immün besinlerin kullanımı artmıştır. Çalışmamızda malnütrisyonu olan ve malnütrisyonu olmayan 3-36 ay arası akut ishalli çocuklarda glutamin verilmesinin ishal sıklığına, süresine ve kilo alımına etkisini değerlendirmeyi amaçladık. Materyal ve metod: Prospektif, randomize plasebo-kontrollü ve çift kör olarak yürütülen bu çalışmaya 21 Mayıs 2012- 24 Mart 2013 tarihleri arasında Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları polikliniklerine başvuran yaşları 3-36 ay arasındaki, akut ishali olan 80 hasta dahil edildi. Olgular malnütrisyonu olan ve olmayan olarak iki gruba ayrıldı. Her bir grubu glutamin ve plasebo alan 20’şer hasta oluşturdu. Çalışma grubuna 300 mg/kg/gün glutamin, kontrol grubuna ise plasebo yedi gün oral yolla verildi. Üç ay boyunca aylık olarak yapılan takiplerinde boy ve kilo değerleri ölçüldü. Geçirmiş oldukları enfeksiyon hastalıkları sorgulandı. Bulgular: Malnütrisyonu olan ve malnütrisyonu olmayan olguların demografik ö zellikleri a rasında i statistiksel o larak f ark yoktu. Gruplar arasında günlük ishal sayısı, başvuru sonrası ve toplam ishal süresi benzerdi, istatistiksel fark saptanmadı. Malnütrisyonu olan ve olmayan gruplarda bir yaş altındaki ve bir yaş üzerindeki olgularla; bir yaş altındaki ve bir yaş üzerindeki glutamin ve plasebo alanlar ve anne sütü alan ve almayan olguların (glutamin (n=40) ve plasebo(n=40)) başvuru sonrası ishal süreleri arasında da istatistiksel olarak fark yoktu. Takip döneminde kilo alımının da malnütrisyonu olan ve olmayan gruplarda benzer olduğu görüldü. Glutamin takviyesi olguların kilo alımını ve enfeksiyon sıklığını da etkilemedi. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak hem malnütrisyonu olan ve olmayan akut ishalli olgularda hem de malnütrisyonu olup olmadığına bakılmadan yapılan değerlendirmede glutamin takviyesinin günlük ortalama ishal sayısını, başvuru sonrası ve toplam ishal süresi ile kilo alımını etkilemediği görüldü.

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Cite This Article

Ünal, B., Senol, O., Alp, H., *, B. Ü. (2026). Efficacy of Glutamine Therapy in Pediatric Acute Diarrhea Patients Aged 3-36 Months With and Without Malnutrition. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 23 Sayı: 2, 306–312. https://ajindex.com/articles/1080807

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