Parental nutrition with fish oil

Abstract

Parental nutrition is now standard of care for infants who cannot feed and for very preterm infants. Adequate calories for growth can be delivered only by including lipid emulsions in the parental nutrition. However, the standard lipid emulsions in clinical use contain minimal amounts of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are needed for optimal neurodevelopment. D'Ascenzo et al report that a lipid emulsion that contains 20% fish oil improves the plasma and red cell membrane lipid profiles for preterm infants with birth weights <1250 g. This lipid emulsion was safe for short-term use in the 23 infants. It is important to question whether these changes in lipid profiles will translate to decreased inflammatory responses or, more importantly, to improved neurodevelopment. Safety for long-term use will also need to be tested. Parental nutrition is now standard of care for infants who cannot feed and for very preterm infants. Adequate calories for growth can be delivered only by including lipid emulsions in the parental nutrition. However, the standard lipid emulsions in clinical use contain minimal amounts of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are needed for optimal neurodevelopment. D'Ascenzo et al report that a lipid emulsion that contains 20% fish oil improves the plasma and red cell membrane lipid profiles for preterm infants with birth weights <1250 g. This lipid emulsion was safe for short-term use in the 23 infants. It is important to question whether these changes in lipid profiles will translate to decreased inflammatory responses or, more importantly, to improved neurodevelopment. Safety for long-term use will also need to be tested. Parenteral Nutrition of Preterm Infants with a Lipid Emulsion Containing 10% Fish Oil: Effect on Plasma Lipids and Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty AcidsThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 159Issue 1PreviewTo compare plasma lipids in preterm infants given a new lipid emulsion containing 10% fish oil, 50% medium-chain triacylglycerols, and 40% soybean oil, compared with a standard preparation containing 50:50 medium-chain triacylglycerols: soybean oil. Full-Text PDF