[Metabolic effects of medium-chain triglycerides in parenteral nutrition after surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the difference between long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT).


METHODS
Twenty-four surgical patients and 6 volunteers were studied. These subjects were randomly assigned to receive parenteral nutrition with MCT or LCT emulsion. Their arterial and venous concentrations were measured across the forearm.


RESULTS
Muscle utilization was significantly improved with MCT administration. In fat clearance test, serum ketone concentrations were significantly higher in the MCT group than in the LCT group. The improvement in nitrogen retention may be associated with the increasing of ketone and insulin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Fat emulsions containing 50% MCT are safe for use in parenteral nutrition and provide an alternate fuel that improves protein metabolism.
Jiang
Z
Z
Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Zhang
S
S
Wang
X
X
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D014280:Triglycerides; D009584:Nitrogen