and Groupe de Biochimie et de Physiopathologie Digestive et Nutritionnelle,

enterally administered glutamine in humans. Am. J. Physiol. 260 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 23): G677-G682, 1991.-To assess absorption and metabolic effects of enterally delivered glutamine, a total of 10 healthy subjects received perfusions of natural L-glutamine at graded infusion rates (ranging from 0 to 126 mmol/h; n = 2-8 subjects at each rate) along with a nonabsorbable marker (polyethylene glycol) through a double-lumen nasojejunal tube. Perfusions were administered after an overnight fast during three consecutive l- or 2.5-h periods and in a randomized order. In eight subjects, continuous intrave-nous infusion of D- [ 6,6-2H2]glucose, L- [ 1-13C]leucine, and L-[ 16N]alanine was simultaneously performed. Glutamine was nearly quantitatively absorbed over the 30-cm study segment; estimated K, and Vmax of glutamine absorption were 2.48 and 2.32 mmol/min over the 300cm study segment. Enteral gluta