Amara, S. (2008). Oral glutamine for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 42, 1481–1485.
The purpose of the study was to determine what role glutamine plays in preventing peripheral neuropathy.
The author searched PubMed from 1990 to May 2008 with the key words glutamine, chemotherapy, peripheral neuropathy, neurotoxicity, safety, paclitaxel, platinum compounds, and vinca alkloids. To be included, studies had to evaluate the role of oral glutamine in preventing and treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Studies were excluded if they used glutamine in the reduction of other radiation or chemotherapy-induced related toxicities such as mucositis, cardiotoxicity, diarrhea, and cachexia.
Three clinical trials were reviewed for sample, inclusion/exclusion criteria, study design, and results given. No type of measurement was used to review the study quality. Of note, the article did not state if other studies were found in the literature review.
Study 1 suggested that glutamine helps to decrease symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Study 2 suggested that glutamine can help prevent some symptoms of CIPN. And, finally, study 3 suggested that glutamine may reduce the occurrence of CPIN.
Although each study had a small sample size, glutamine did appear to help reduce symptoms of neuropathy. However, the systematic review concluded that a lack of sufficient evidence existed to recommend oral glutamine for the prevention of CIPN. Glutamine could be beneficial in patients receiving high-dose paclitaxel and oxaliplatin.
The safety and tolerability of glutamine was not mentioned.