Among the available evidence, which outcome has glutamine supplementation been shown to reduce in critically ill patients?

• A. Nosocomial infections
• B. Mortality
• C. Length of stay
• D. Readmission rate

Answer: (A)

Glutamine serves as an important fuel for immune cells and helps maintain gut barrier function, which are both critical in the stressed, catabolic state of critical illness. Among the outcomes studied, the most consistent benefit seen with glutamine supplementation is a reduction in nosocomial infections. The reasoning is that better immune cell function and a healthier gut barrier can lower the likelihood of infections acquired in the hospital.

Evidence for mortality, length of stay, or readmission is mixed or inconsistent, and some large trials have raised concerns about safety with high-dose regimens. So while infection risk appears to be the outcome with the strongest, most reproducible signal of benefit, other outcomes do not show a clear, universal improvement.