Cutaneous application of vegetable oil as a coadjutant in the nutritional management of preterm infants.
BACKGROUND
The cutaneous application of vegetable oil as a therapeutic practice and dietary coadjuvant has been described mainly in adult patients at risk for essential fatty acid deficiency. In the current study, the effects of cutaneous soybean oil application on somatic growth and plasma linoleic and arachidonic acid levels were examined in enterally fed preterm newborns.


METHODS
Sixty consecutive preterm infants were chosen from patients admitted to the nursery. Infants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the oil group, which was treated cutaneously with soybean oil, or the control group, which received no cutaneous treatment.


RESULTS
After 30 days, a significant increase in anthropometric parameters was observed in infants who received cutaneous oil, mainly in infants small for gestational age. An increase in linoleic acid level and a decrease in arachidonic acid level were seen in both groups but do not justify the difference found in growth rates in the control and oil groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Preterm infants treated cutaneously with soy oil showed better somatic growth than the control group. The factors leading to the present results, especially the response of the infants who were small for gestational age merit further evaluation.
Soriano
C R
CR
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Martinez
F E
FE
Jorge
S M
SM
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000886:Anthropometry; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D013024:Soybean Oil; D019787:Linoleic Acid