ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the major findings on glutamine metabolism in kidney injury, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease that are very common in critically ill patients treated in intensive care units. Since inflammation and oxidative stress play important roles in the development of AKI, the interventions against AKI have mainly been focused on anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidative approaches. A growing body of evidence suggests that the sepsis-induced immune responses involve the sequential activation of both pro- and anti-inflammatory effectors. The chapter focuses on the possible beneficial effects and risks of glutamine supplementation in the subgroup of critically ill patients, an issue that has not been addressed in humans. Glutamine, together with alanine, constitutes the most important nitrogen carrier in body fluids. The interorgan nitrogen transport function in humans is unique to glutamine. One of glutamine’s major roles is to act as a “nitrogen shuttle,” which helps the body to be protected from high levels of ammonia.
