Comparison of glucose, LCT, and LCT plus MCT as calorie sources for parenterally nourished septic rats

Protein and energy metabolism were investigated in acutely septic rats. Rats were made septic by cecal puncture and ligation. For the next 24 h they were given one of five parenteral formulations differing only in the nonprotein calorie source. The five calorie sources were 1) glucose, 2) long-chain triglycerides (LCT), 3) a 27:73 mixture of medium- and long-chain triglycerides (M/LCT), 4) a 50:50 mixture of glucose plus LCT, and 5) a 50:50 mixture of glucose plus the M/LCT mixture. The formulations also contained amino acids at a calorie:ratio of 165:1. The results were that N retention was greater with the glucose plus LCT mixture than with glucose alone. With this mixture, N retention increased as calorie intake increased, whereas with glucose, N retention plateaued. In spite of the high glucose load given to the glucose-only groups, there was a significant reduction in endogenous fat in peripheral depots. Lipid loss was least with the glucose plus LCT combination. The M/LCT mixture given alone or with glucose resulted in significantly lower survival rates.