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ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA. Painful mouth sores (stomatitis) and
difficulties in swallowing are common side effects of chemotherapy
for cancer. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic now report that
rinsing the mouth with a suspension of glutamine (a non-essential
amino acid) morning and evening markedly reduces the duration and
intensity of this pain. Their study involved 24 cancer patients
(16 children and 8 adults) who were undergoing chemotherapy and
had previously had problems with mouth sores. The study was
designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind,
crossover study with the patients serving as their own controls
over four treatment courses. The patients were told to
swish and swallow either a suspension of glutamine or a suspension
of glycine (placebo) in the morning and evening on the day of their
treatment and for the following two weeks. Analysis of the
collected data showed that study participants on the amino acid suspension reduced their
pain level significantly and shortened the duration of pain by an
average 4.5 days. The researchers conclude their report by
recommending that glutamine be given to chemotherapy patients
during treatment and for the two weeks following treatment. |
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