Effects of an alanyl-glutamine-based oral rehydration and nutrition therapy solution on electrolyte and water absorption in a rat model of secretory diarrhea induced by cholera toxin.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Recurring diarrhea and persistent diarrhea are commonly associated with malnutrition and long-term functional deficits. A beneficial approach would be to develop an alanyl-glutamine (AlaGln)-based oral rehydration and nutrition therapy (ORNT). We investigated the effect of an AlaGln-ORNT solution on electrolyte and water absorption in a rat model of secretory diarrhea induced by cholera toxin.

METHODS:

Phenolsulfonphthalein (50 microg/mL) was used as a non-absorbable marker for calculation of net water and electrolyte transport. Solutions tested were Ringer's solution, a glutamine-based ORNT (Gln-ORNT) solution, and an AlaGln-ORNT solution. Cholera toxin (1 microg/mL) was injected into lumen of rat small intestinal segments and incubated for 18 h before the initiation of the perfusion.

RESULTS:

Cholera toxin induced significant secretion of electrolyte and water in the control Ringer's solution. AlaGln-ORNT and Gln-ORNT solutions reduced the sodium secretory effect of cholera toxin by 128% and 36%, respectively. The net water secretion also was reduced by 95% and 60%, respectively, with the AlaGln-ORNT and Gln-ORTN solutions.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results showed that AlaGln-ORNT solution can enhance water and electrolyte intestinal absorption even better than glutamine or glucose and thus provide a potential novel approach for ORNT to break the vicious cycle of diarrhea and malnutrition. Clinical trials are now needed in children and adults with diarrhea and malnutrition.

• Authors: Aldo A M Lima, Graça H P Carvalho, Aline A Figueiredo, Angela R Gifoni, Alberto M Soares, Eduardo A T Silva, Richard L Guerrant
• Journal: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) (Nutrition) Vol. 18 Issue 6 Pg. 458-62 (Jun 2002) ISSN: 0899-9007 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12044816 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Dipeptides
• Electrolytes
• Rehydration Solutions
• Water
• Glutamine
• Cholera Toxin
• Sodium
• Potassium
• alanylglutamine

Topics

• Animals
• Cholera Toxin
• Diarrhea (chemically induced, metabolism, therapy)
• Dipeptides (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Electrolytes (metabolism)
• Female
• Fluid Therapy (methods)
• Glutamine
• Intestinal Absorption (drug effects)
• Kinetics
• Male
• Potassium (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Rehydration Solutions (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Sodium (metabolism)
• Water (metabolism)