Abstract
Background:
Cytokines were beneficial for diagnosis and treatment, which in clinical situation introduced from the perspective of pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammatory response commonly associated with various severe traumatic insults that consequently recruit the immune cells into the target organs and causing SIRS that can lead into sepsis. Immune-modulating nutrients such as glutamine and arginine, known as pathophysiological modulate in inflammation.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral gavage supplementation with a combination of glutamine and arginine on inflammatory cytokines at intestinal mucosa, specifically jejunum.
Methods:
Sixteen Rattus norvegicus rats (average weight 150-200 g) were randomly divided into two groups: groups A and B, both intraperitoneal injected by 2 mL NaCl 0.9%. Group A orally supplemented with 1 mL dextrose 5% daily, meanwhile group B orally supplemented with 1 mL combination of glutamine and arginine (contain 250 mg/kg glutamine and 250 mg/kg arginine) daily. The experiment lasted for 3 days. We compared the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-8, and MMP-8) between the two groups by Mann-Whitney test.
Results:
More IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-8 cytokine produced cells found in group A. Group B produced significantly lower TNF-α (p=0.009) and IL-8 (p=0.003). The number of NF-B and MMP-8 was slightly higher in group B.
Conclusion:
Giving combination of glutamine and arginine as nutrition supplementation have beneficial effects in decreasing almost half of cells that produce TNF-α and IL-8. Further studies must be carried out to support a standard guideline for this recommendation.

Key words: Immunonutrient, Glutamine, Arginine, Inflammatory, Cytokine