Prevention of Acute Radiation Enteritis With Glutamine

Efficacy of Glutamine in the Prevention of Acute Radiation Enteritis Among Patients Treated With Radiation of Abdomen and Pelvis.

Ionizing radiation has cytotoxic effects, and is commonly used as treatment for neoplasm. A common adverse effect of radiation is acute diarrhoea. Glutamine is an aminoacid with antioxidant effects that can protect tissues of damage dued to radiation. The investigators designed a randomized, double-blind trial phase III to study if glutamine prevents acute radiation enteritis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 yr
• Gynaecological,prostatic, rectal or other abdominal cancer
• Radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• life expectancy < 1 yr
• Age < 18 yr
• gut diseases: inflammatory bowel disease,sprue, irritable bowel disease...
• moderate to severe chronic renal failure
• hepatic cirrhosis