BACKGROUND: Exposure of the abdominal region to ionizing radiation is associated with serious untoward symptoms of intestinal dysfunction and some reports indicate that nutrient supplements may reduce these adverse effects. This study was designed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of oral arginine or glutamine supplementation on the radiation-induced tissue injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were given one of three feeding regimens: standard diet and water (control group), diet and water containing 2% arginine (arginine group), diet and water containing 2% glutamine (glutamine group) for 3 days prior to radiation. All rats were then subjected to a single does of 1100 cGy to the abdomen. Several serum biochemical parameters and the histologic alterations in different segments of gastrointestinal tract and liver were measured 4 days after irradiation. RESULTS: All the arginine-fed rats developed diarrhea on Day 4 postirradiation, compared to 71% incidence in control rats and 86% in glutamine-fed rats. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the arginine group were markedly higher than those in other groups. On histological examination, radiation caused more serious damage to various segments of intestine in the arginine-fed rats compared to rats on other feeding regimens. CONCLUSION: These observations seriously question the beneficial effects of arginine and glutamine supplementations on radiation-induced tissue injury.
BACKGROUND: Exposure of the abdominal region to ionizing radiation is associated with serious untoward symptoms of intestinal dysfunction and some reports indicate that nutrient supplements may reduce these adverse effects. This study was designed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of oral arginine or glutamine supplementation on the radiation-induced tissue injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Rats were given one of three feeding regimens: standard diet and water (control group), diet and water containing 2% arginine (arginine group), diet and water containing 2% glutamine (glutamine group) for 3 days prior to radiation. All rats were then subjected to a single does of 1100 cGy to the abdomen. Several serum biochemical parameters and the histologic alterations in different segments of gastrointestinal tract and liver were measured 4 days after irradiation. RESULTS: All the arginine-fed rats developed diarrhea on Day 4 postirradiation, compared to 71% incidence in control rats and 86% in glutamine-fed rats. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the arginine group were markedly higher than those in other groups. On histological examination, radiation caused more serious damage to various segments of intestine in the arginine-fed rats compared to rats on other feeding regimens. CONCLUSION: These observations seriously question the beneficial effects of arginine and glutamine supplementations on radiation-induced tissue injury.
Authors: Etiene de Aguiar Picanço; Francisco Lopes-Paulo; Ruy G Marques; Cristina F Diestel; Carlos Eduardo R Caetano; Mônica Vieira Mano de Souza; Gabriela Mendes Moscoso; Helena Maria F Pazos Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2011-02-25 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Waldemar S Costa; Monica N Ribeiro; Luiz E M Cardoso; Maria C Dornas; Cristiane F Ramos; Carla B M Gallo; Francisco J B Sampaio Journal: World J Urol Date: 2012-08-30 Impact factor: 4.226
Authors: Cristina F Diestel; Ruy G Marques; Francisco Lopes-Paulo; Daurita Paiva; Nara L Horst; Carlos Eduardo R Caetano; Margareth C Portela Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2007-08-10 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Michael A Ajakaiye; Asha Jacob; Rongqian Wu; Weng Lang Yang; Jeffrey Nicastro; Gene F Coppa; Ping Wang Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-10-08 Impact factor: 3.240