Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2026
Non-invasive Optical Measurement of Cerebral Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Infants
Published on: March 14, 2013
Association between SMOFlipid and impaired brain development on term-equivalent age brain magnetic resonance imaging
Mountasser M Al-Mouqdad1, Belal Alshaikh2, Haider H Sumaily3
1Neonatal Intensive Care, Hospital of Pediatrics, King Saud Medical City, Al Imam Abdul Aziz Ibn Muhammad Ibn Saud, Riyadh, 12746, Saudi Arabia. m.almouqdad@ksmc.med.sa.
Insights
SMOFlipid, a lipid emulsion, was linked to brain injury in very preterm infants, particularly affecting white matter and cerebellum. Further research is needed to understand lipid emulsion effects on the central nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Lipid emulsions are crucial for parenteral nutrition in preterm infants.
- The safety and neurological impact of different lipid emulsion formulations, such as SMOFlipid, require thorough investigation.
- Current evidence on the benefits and risks of SMOFlipid in neonatal brain development is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between soybean-based lipid emulsions and SMOFlipid use and brain injury in very preterm infants.
- To evaluate the impact of lipid emulsion type on brain morphology and growth at term-equivalent age using MRI.
- To identify potential neurological risks associated with SMOFlipid in a neonatal intensive care unit setting.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study comparing 148 very preterm infants (<1500g birth weight, ≤32 weeks gestation) who received either soybean-based lipid emulsions or SMOFlipid.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term-equivalent age was used to assess brain injury, including focal signal abnormality, myelination, extracerebral space, and cerebellar volume.
- Statistical analysis involved negative binomial generalized linear models and modified log-Poisson regression with robust variance estimation to adjust for confounders.
Main Results:
- SMOFlipid use was associated with a higher incidence of brain injury compared to soybean-based emulsions.
- Specific findings included lower focal signal abnormality, delayed myelination, increased extracerebral space, and reduced cerebellar volume in the SMOFlipid group.
- These results indicate that SMOFlipid may be linked to adverse effects on white matter, cortical gray matter, and the cerebellum.
Conclusions:
- SMOFlipid use in very preterm infants is associated with specific patterns of brain insult.
- The findings suggest a potential negative impact of SMOFlipid on neonatal brain development, particularly in white matter and cerebellar regions.
- Further well-designed studies are essential to elucidate the precise effects of various lipid emulsions on the developing central nervous system.
Abstract:
Soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOFlipid) is used without evidence of benefits. We investigated the relationship between lipid emulsions and brain injury in term-equivalent age magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 148 very preterm infants with a birth weight of < 1500 g at ≤ 32 gestational weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit. Infants who received soybean-based lipid emulsions between January 2015 and December 2018 were compared with those who received SMOFlipids between January 2019 and December 2022. A negative binomial generalized linear model was applied for bivariate analysis. Modified log-Poisson regression with generalized linear models and a robust variance estimator (Huber-White) were applied to adjust for potential confounders. The Kidokoro score was used to determine if lipid emulsion type would affect brain morphology and growth at term-equivalent age. Eighty-six (58.9%) received SMOFlipid. SMOFlipid was associated with lower focal signal abnormality, myelination delay, increased extracerebral space, and cerebellar volume reduction (P = 0.02, P = 0.007, P = 0.01, P = 0.02, respectively). SMOFlipidis are associated with brain insult, especially in white matter, cortical gray matter, and the cerebellum. Well-designed studies are needed to investigate the effect of lipid emulsions on the central nervous system.
More Related Videos
07:36Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
05:52Early Pathological and Magnetic Resonance Detection of Cerebral Injury Using a Rat Model of Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Published on: October 28, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging
01:14Brain Imaging
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).