Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 10, 2025

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Addition of Regular Insulin to Ternary Parenteral Nutrition: A Stability Study
Heloise Henry1,2, Damien Lannoy1,2, Patrice Maboudou3
1ULR7365-GRITA-Groupe de Recherche sur les Formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
Background:
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a complex medium in which added insulin can become unstable. The aim of this study is, therefore, to evaluate the stability of insulin in PN and to identify influencing factors.
Methods:
A total of 20 IU/L of regular insulin was added to PN in either glass or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) containers. A 24 h stability study was performed via an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in different media: A ternary PN admixture, separate compartments of the PN bag and a binary admixture. This study was repeated in the absence of zinc, with the addition of serum albumin or tween and with pH adjustment (3.6 or 6.3). Insulin concentration at t time was expressed as a percentage of the initial insulin concentration. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to determine the factors that influence insulin stability.
Results:
In all PN admixtures, the insulin concentration ratio decreased, stabilising at a 60% and then plateauing after 6 h. At pH 3.6, the ratio was above 90%, while at pH 6.3 it decreased, except in the amino acid solution. ANCOVA (r2 = 0.68, p = 0.01) identified dextrose and pH as significant factors influencing insulin stability.
Conclusion:
A low pH level seems to stabilise insulin in PN admixtures. The influence of dextrose content suggests that insulin glycation may influence stability.
Related Concept Videos
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Insulin Formulations: Types and Delivery
Short-acting insulins are divided into...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
Two-Compartment Open Model: IV Bolus Administration
The disparity between drug input and the sum of drug transfer rates between...
One-Compartment Open Model for IV Bolus Administration: General Considerations
The drug's presence in the body is defined by an equation representing the difference between the rates of drug entry and exit. Key parameters—elimination rate constant,...

