[Pharmacokinetic studies of a new 20% fat emulsion containing 70% medium-chain triglycerides]

The aim of the study was to acquire basic knowledge on pharmacokinetic, metabolism and tolerance of a new 20% fatty emulsion with a 70% proportion of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and a 30% proportion of long-chain triglycerides (LCT) in the postoperative phase after a trauma of medium severity. - 12 female patients who had an elective rectal amputation and who needed parenteral nutrition postoperatively, were studied. The nutritional regime consisted of 4.8 g/kg/day of glucose and 1 g/kg/day of amino acids. On the second postoperative day the patients were given 0.06 g/kg body weight/h and on the third day 0.12 g/kg body weight/h of new 20% fatty emulsion during a time period of eight hours. Blood samples for the evaluation of triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB), acetoacetate, cholesterol, glucose, pyruvate and lactate were taken before and after the fat application. Ketone were measured semiquantitatively. Side effects and complications were not observed. Simultaneously to the administrated triglycerides an increase in serum triglycerides was observed. After four hours fat emulsion was infused under steady state conditions. Under the graphically measured half-life of 17 minutes for the MCT/LCT emulsion, rapid and complete elimination could be seen after the infusion had been stopped. Simultaneously with the high clearance of the infused triglycerides, free fatty acids increased significantly in the plasma without reaching a plateau; 30 minutes after the fat application the laboratory results returned to the initial levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)