Comparison of Glutamine Enriched Feed Over Normal Routine Feed in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients:A Randomized Double Blind Controlled Trial

Context: This study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of glutamine enriched feed in comparison with routing feed for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Objective: the objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of glutamine feed on selected biophysiological parameters of TBI patients. Design, Setting, Participants: Study was conducted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and TC5 ward of Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNATC), AIIMS. Thirty five patients admitted with TBI were randomized into control group (n=18) and interventional group (n=17) in a double-blind, randomized control trial between June and November 2013. Quantitative evaluative approach was used for the study. 15 patients from each group has completed the full course of study. Interventions: Patients in the interventional group were supplemented with 20g of glutamine per day for 10 days along with the normal routine feed for head injury patients while the patients in control group received routine feed as per physician order. Results: There was significant increase in hemoglobine (p<0.05), serum protein (p<0.05) and serum albumin (p<0.05) in patients who received glutamine enriched feed while patients who received routine feed showed significant decline in all the parameters. Conclusion: Routine administration of glutamine enriched feed can be safely done and it can result in better clinical outcome for the traumatic brain injury patients compared with those who are getting normal routine feed which lacks in glutamine.