Some metabolic effects of fat infusions in depleted patients

Severely depleted surgical patients were given total parenteral nutrition, providing an average of 34.6 kcal and 266 mg nitrogen/kg body weight. Two diets were used, one with glucose as sole source of nonprotein energy, the other with a fat emulsion, Liposyn 10%, substituted isocalorically for one-third of the glucose. The two diets were given alternately, for 1 wk at a time, to each patient. N balance, at zero energy balance, was estimated to average 50 mg nitrogen/kg, indicating that energy intake in excess of expenditure is not required to restore lean body mass in depleted patients. Nitrogen (N) balance was equally good with either diet. Respiratory quotients and carbohydrate oxidation were lower, and fat oxidation was higher with the fat-containing diet. Amino acids and glucose were infused continuously over each 24-hr period and fat was given for only 6--8 hr. During the period of fat infusion, fat oxidation was significantly higher, and carbohydrate oxidation and RQ were lower than at other times of day.