Amino acids levels related to glutamine supplementation for type 2 diabetes patients

Abstract

Aim: Amino acids levels are changed upon glutamine administration, but the impact of glutamine administration on plasma amino acid levels in type 2 diabetes patients remains unclear. Methods: A placebo controlled, randomized trial was performed with type 2 diabetic patients who consumed 2 supplements containing glutamine (10 g/3 times a day) or placebo (1 g/3 times a day) every day for 6 consecutive weeks. Blood samples were obtained just before initiation of study and again after the patients had received the study supplements. Results: Dietary supplementation with glutamine didn’t affect concentrations of plasma amino acid apart from for threonine. Plasma threonine concentration in intervention group was low at week 6 compared with placebo (glutamine group=111.19 ± 38.60 µmol/l, placebo group=135.30 ± 47.42 µmol/l; P=0.02). Conclusion: In type 2 diabetes patients, oral glutamine supplementation resulted in a decreased level of threonine.