A RandomizEd trial of ENtERal Glutamine to minimIZE thermal injury (The RE-ENERGIZE Trial): a clinical trial protocol

Abstract

Lay SummaryPatients with severe burns need to recover in a hospital burn unit for a long time and are at high risk of developing infections and dying. Proper nutrition and certain nutrients may improve survival in these patients and shorten their stay in the burn unit. Glutamine is a building block of protein that is normally made in the body and is found in different foods we eat. It is of great interest because it has several beneficial effects on the body during serious illness, such as with burn injury. In this study, we will look at the effect of glutamine supplementation on survival and time spent in hospital. A total of 80 burn units around the world will enrol 2700 patients with 2nd or 3rd degree burns over 4 years. Patients will receive either glutamine powder or a placebo through a feeding tube or mixed with food, from admission to the burn unit, until a week after the burn wound has healed. The main outcome for this study is survival at 6 months. Other outcomes include the time taken to be discharged from hospital alive and duration of stay in the burn unit. This study will be the first large international multicentre trial examining the effects of glutamine in burn patients. Glutamine may lead to better survival and less complications in burn patients, who have a devastating and disabling burn injury. If the trial is positive, the results will be used to inform how nutrition should be given to such patients worldwide.