Table 1 The trial will use a 2 by 2 factorial design to test not only whether glutamine and selenium on their own are effective, but also whether there is extra effectiveness from the combination. For this reason allocation will be to one of four groups.
| Â | No glutamine | Glutamine |
|---|---|---|
No additional selenium | Standard PN bag 12.5 g nitrogen, 2000 kcal daily | PN bag, 12.5 g nitrogen (including 20.2 g glutamine), 2000 kcal daily |
Additional selenium | Standard PN bag 12.5 g nitrogen, 2000 kcal daily 500 μg selenium daily | PN bag, 12.5 g nitrogen (including 20.2 g glutamine), 2000 kcal daily 500 μg selenium daily |