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Study of Glutamate and Glutamine Metabolism in Burn Patients Receiving Enteral or Parenteral Nutrition

Not Applicable
Withdrawn
Conditions
Burns
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Stable isotope tracer study
Dietary Supplement: Stable isotope study
Registration Number
NCT00181753
Lead Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital
Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to understand how the body uses amino acids in burned patients during the time they cannot eat normally. Amino acids occur naturally in the body and the food we eat. The body combines amino acids to make protein. It uses the proteins to do things such as heal wounds, fight infection, and provide energy. We are studying two ways of receiving nutrition: through a vein or through a tube. We are also studying two different types of food: with or without glutamine. The results of this study will be used to determine the best type and way to supply nutrients during a severe burn injury. We hope to learn how to help the body use nutrients more efficiently to better repair wounded tissues and recover earlier from injury.

Detailed Description

We hypothesize that:

1. Burn patients will experience an increased conversion of glutamine to glutamate and a decreased conversion of glutamate to glutamine as compared to healthy subjects. The net direction is from glutamine to glutamate in burn patients and would render glutamine as a conditionally essential amino acid.

2. Because of the limited ability of liver to oxidize glutamate, it is possible that large doses of glutamine may cause increased gluconeogenesis in burn patients, thus aggravating the glucose homeostasis secondary to insulin resistance.

3. Enterally and parenterally fed glutamine and glutamate have different metabolic fate in the splanchnic bed and peripheral regions, therefore the doses should be tailored according to the route of administration.

This study, using stable isotope tracers, aims to track the metabolic fate of glutamine and glutamate in body with the goal of enhancing nutritional efficiency.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
WITHDRAWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
Not specified
Inclusion Criteria
  • One or more of the following:

    • 5% Total Body Surface Area Thermal Burn
  • Inhalation Injury

  • Resting Energy Expenditure of >15% of the predicted Basal Metabolic Rate Using Harris-Benedict.

  • Receiving Enteral or Parental Nutritional Support

Exclusion Criteria
  • Pre-existing:
  • Thyroid disease
  • Congestive Heart Failure (Ejection fraction <20%)
  • Malignancy currently under treatment
  • Medical conditions requiring glucocorticoid treatment
  • Decision not to treat because of severity of injury
  • Presence of Anoxic brain injury with no expectation for recovery
  • Self-Inflicted thermal injury
  • Ileus, gut paralysis, or facial injuries
  • No NG or OG tube as part of their clinical care

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
3Stable isotope studyBurn patients receiving at least 3 days of enteral feeding on routine formula.
4Stable isotope studyBurn patients receiving at least 3 days of enteral feeding on glutamine-enriched formula.
1standard vs. glutamine enteral or parenteral feeding.Burn Patients receiving at least 3 days of parenteral feeding on routine formula
1Stable isotope tracer studyBurn Patients receiving at least 3 days of parenteral feeding on routine formula
3Stable isotope tracer studyBurn patients receiving at least 3 days of enteral feeding on routine formula.
2Stable isotope tracer studyBurn patients receiving at least 3 days on parenteral feeding on glutamine enriched formula.
2Stable isotope studyBurn patients receiving at least 3 days on parenteral feeding on glutamine enriched formula.
1Stable isotope studyBurn Patients receiving at least 3 days of parenteral feeding on routine formula
2standard vs. glutamine enteral or parenteral feeding.Burn patients receiving at least 3 days on parenteral feeding on glutamine enriched formula.
4standard vs. glutamine enteral or parenteral feeding.Burn patients receiving at least 3 days of enteral feeding on glutamine-enriched formula.
4Stable isotope tracer studyBurn patients receiving at least 3 days of enteral feeding on glutamine-enriched formula.
3standard vs. glutamine enteral or parenteral feeding.Burn patients receiving at least 3 days of enteral feeding on routine formula.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
This is a nutritional study. The primary outcome is to measure the protein kinetics for metabolism of the amino acid, glutamate and glutamine. Fate will be determine from measurements of subject blood and air samples.3 days and above
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital Burn Unit

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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