L-Glutamine and Oral Mucositis

Abstract

The term oral mucositis emerged in the late 1980s to describe the adverse effects of chemotherapyinducedand radiation therapy–induced inflammation of the oral mucosa. The ulcerative lesionsproduced by mucotoxic chemo radiotherapy are painful, restrict oral intake and, importantly, act assites of secondary infection and portals of entry for the endogenous oral flora. Various approachesare available for the treatment of mucositis like antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, cytoprotectants, immuno-modulatory, analgesic and some herbal extracts. It is very difficult for clinician to choosefrom this bewildering array of treatment options. Several studies have evaluated the benefit of oralor parenteral glutamine supplementation in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/orradiotherapy or after bone marrow transplant, with. L-glutamine is considerably reduce theduration and severity or oral mucosa during radiotherapy. L-glutamine is considerably reducingthe duration and severity of oral mucosa during radiotherapy. L-glutamine decreases the sideeffects such as inflammation of mouth and throat caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy