Influence of insulin in all-in-one parenteral nutrition on blood glucose level in infants of very low birth weight

Abstract

Objective To investigate influence of exogenous insulin in all-in-one parenteral nutrition on blood glucose in infants with very low birth weight (VLBW). Methods Forty-two infants with VLBWI admitted to the department of pediatrics of Xuzhou Hospital affiliated to Southeast University during September 2005 to March 2009 were randomly assigned to Group Ⅰ ( n = 13 ) with exogenous insulin added to all-in-one parenteral nutrition at infusion rate of 0.4 U·kg-1·h-1,GroupⅡ(n = 13) with exogenous insulin at infusion rate of 0.1U·kg-1·h-1 and Group Ⅲ (n = 16) with no exogenous insulin added.Their blood glucose was monitored every two hours. Chi-square test was used for comparing difference in blood glucose abnormality between the three groups and association between blood glucose levels at admission and during hospitalization was analyzed with Spearman correlation. Results Incidence of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia was 10. 9 percent (29/265) and 18. 1 percent (48/265) in Group Ⅰ, 20. 8 percent (59/284) and 14. 1 percent (40/284) in Group Ⅱ , and 20. 5 percent (61/298) and 11.7 percent (35/298) in Group Ⅲ, respectively. There was significant difference in incidence of hyperglycemia between Groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ ( x2 = 9. 844, P = 0. 002 ) and between Groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ ( x2 = 9. 478, P = 0. 002 ), but no significant difference in it between Groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ ( x2 = 0. 008, P = 0. 928 ). There was significant difference in incidence of hypoglycemia between Groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ ( x2 = 4. 526, P =0. 033 ), but no significant difference in it between Groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (x2 =1.653, P=0. 199) or between Groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ (x2 =0.709, P =0.400).No significant correlation between endogenous blood insulin level at admission and during hospitalization( r = 0. 082, P = 0. 661 ) was found. Conclusions Blood glucose in infants with VLBW can not be regulated timely by their endogenous insulin itseff. Exogenous insulin added to all-in-one parenteral nutrition at infusion rate of 0. 1 U · kg-1 · h-1 may not significantly reduce incidence of hyperglycemia,while incidence of hypoglycemia can be reduced by exogenous insulin at infusion rate of 0. 4 U · kg- 1 · h -1 that can increase incidence of hypoglycemia Therefore, exogenous insulin is not recommended to be prophylactically added to all-in-one parenteral nutrition for infants with VLBW. Key words: Infant, very low birth weight; Parenteral nutrition; Insulin; Blood glucose