Background Glutamine,proposed to be conditionally essential for critically ill patients,is not added routinely toparenteral amino acid formulations for premature infants and is provided in only small quantities by the enteral routewhen enteral feeding is low.Parenteral feeding is the basic way of nutrition in the first days of life of premature infants.Inthis study,we evaluated the effects of glutamine supplemented parenteral nutrition for premature infants on growth anddevelopment,feeding toleration,and infective episodes.Methods From December 2002 to July 2006,53 premature infants were given either standard or glutaminesupplemented parenteral nutrition for more than 2 weeks.Twenty-eight infants were in glutamine supplemented group,whose gestational age (31.4±2.0) weeks,birth weight range (1386±251) g;twenty-five infants were in control group,gestational age (31.1±1.7) weeks,with birth weight range (1346±199) g.There were no differences between the twogroups.Various growth and biochemical indices were monitored throughout the duration of hospital stay.Data betweengroups were analyzed with Student’s t test.Nonparametric data were analyzed using a Chi-square test.A two-tailed Pvalue<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results The level of serum albumin was lower in the glutamine groups on the second week (3.0 vs 3.2 g/dl,P=0.028),and blood urea nitrogen was higher in glutamine groups on the fourth week (8.1 vs 4.9 mg/dl,P=0.014),but normal.Glutamine group infants took fewer days to regain birth weight (8.1 vs 10.4 days,P=0.017),required fewer days onparenteral nutrition (24.8 vs 30.8 days,P=0.035),with shorter stays in hospital (32.1 vs 38.6 days,P=0.047).Episodes ofhospital acquired infection in glutamine supplemented infants were lower than that in control group (0.96 vs 1.84 times,m=0.000).Conclusion Parenteral glutamine supplementation in premature infants can shorten days on parenteral nutrition andlength of stay in hospital,and decrease hospital acquired infection episodes. Background Glutamine, proposed to be conditionally essential for critically ill patients, is not added routinely toparenteral amino acid formulations for premature infants and is provided in only small quantities by the enteral routewhen enteral feeding is low. Parenteral feeding is the basic way of nutrition in the first days of life of premature infants .nthis study, we evaluated the effects of glutamine supplemented parenteral nutrition for premature infants on growth and development, feeding toleration, and infective episodes. Methods From December 2002 to July 2006, 53 premature infants were given either standard or Twenty-five infants were in glutamine supplemented group, whose gestational age (31.4 ± 2.0) weeks, birth weight range (1386 ± 251) g; twenty-five infants were in control group, gestational age (31.1 ± 1.7) weeks, with birth weight range (1346 ± 199) g. There were no differences between the twogroups.Various growth and bio Chemical indices were monitored throughout the duration of hospital stay. Data between groups were analyzed with Student’s t test. Nonparametric data was analyzed using a Chi-square test. A two-tailed Pvalue <0.05 was taken may significant significant. Results The level of serum albumin was lower in the glutamine groups on the second week (3.0 vs 3.2 g / dl, P = 0.028), and blood urea nitrogen was higher in glutamine groups on the fourth week (8.1 vs 4.9 mg / dl, P = 0.014) . Glutamine group infants took fewer days to regain birth weight (8.1 vs 10.4 days, P = 0.017), requiring fewer days on parenteral nutrition (24.8 vs 30.8 days, P = 0.035), with shorter stays in hospital (32.1 vs 38.6 days, P = 0.047). Episodes of hospital acquired infection in glutamine supplemented infants were lower than that in control group (0.96 vs 1.84 times, m = 0.000) .Conclusion Parenteral glutamine supplementation in premature infants can shorten days on parenteral nutrition and length of stay in hospital, and decrease hospital a cquired infection episodes.