Hi --
The l-glutamine paper I found is a review posted on
www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/lgl_0125.shtml It has a number of citations which I have not yet looked up which describe benefits against stomatitis/mucositis.
However, the summary info in the review says:
"In a recent placebo-controlled study, oral glutamine significantly decreased the severity and duration of painful mucositis (stomatitis) in autologous bone-marrow transplantation patients. It was similarly helpful in alleviating radiation-induced oral mucositis in a recent randomized pilot trial." Later the paper says, "Those with chemotherapy- or radiation-induced stomatitis have taken doses of 2 to 4 grams twice daily or 2 grams four times daily. This was done by dissolving a given amount of l-glutamine in water or normal saline - one gram dissolves in 20.8 ml. of water at 30 degrees Celsius -- and using it a a swish and swallow." I would make sure your nurses know you are doing this but personally cannot see that it can hurt. If you are concerned about ingesting it, I guess just swish and spit.
Reading the rest of the paper, it appears that people under metabolic stress and not taking in a normal diet are often deficient in this important amino acid.
A google on Aesgen has quite a bit on this new drug, and how l-glutamine acts against mucositis.
Gail
