[Carbohydrates in parenteral nutrition solutions in pediatrics--a critical evaluation]

Application of carbohydrates in pediatric infusion therapy has recently been limited to glucose and xylitol. Fructose and sorbitol, which formerly had been used widely as energy sources in parenteral nutrition, have meanwhile been banned in order to prevent fatal complications in patients with undiscovered hereditary disturbances in fructose metabolism. The aim of this review is to focus the attention on potential side effects and limitations of glucose administration in pediatric infusion therapy. With special regard to total parenteral nutrition in preterm infants, sufficient glucose conversion to N-acetylneuraminic acid and other carbohydrate building blocks of glycoproteins and gangliosides is to be placed in question. This might have consequences for normal brain development and can be considered a challenge for future research work in this field.