A liquid nutritional composition for peri-operative use is described which contains, per 400 ml, 5-130 g of soluble carbohydrates and 1-30 g of glutamine or a glutamine precursor calculated as glutamine. The carbohydrates preferably consist of at least 75 % by weight of polysaccharides. The composition can further contain 0.5-20 g of one or more amino acids selected from arginine, lysine, ornithine, histidine, and other specific amino acids per 400 ml. The contents of natural fats and insoluble proteins are low.
