Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 16, Issue 1 85-87, Copyright © 1997 by American College of Nutrition

CLINICAL TRIAL

Serum levels of unbound free fatty acids. II: The effect of intralipid administration in premature infants

S. Ruben, A. M. Kleinfeld, G. V. Richeiri, M. Hiatt and T. Hegyi
Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, St. Peter's Medical Center, New Brunswick 08903, USA.

BACKGROUND: Fatty acids (FFA) are key nutrients in maintaining physiologic homeostasis and in the form of Intralipid administration, they are important sources of nutrition in the premature newborn infant. Complexed with albumin, fatty acids have a small but important fraction that remains unbound in the aqueous phase. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine the levels of serum levels of unbound free fatty acids (FFAu) in premature newborns following Intralipid administration. METHOD: A fluorescent probe acrylodated intestinal fatty acid binding protein (ADIFAB) was used to measure (FFAu) before Intralipid and during increasing rates of infusion. RESULTS: There were significant differences between (FFAu) values obtained before Intralipid and levels after the infusion of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g/kg/day (p < 0.05). Regression analysis of Intralipid dose and FFAu yielded an r = 0.438 and the following relationship: [FFAu] = 26.39 + 3.60 * IL (g/kg/day). CONCLUSIONS: Intralipid administration results in significant elevation of FFAu in the very low birth weight infant.