ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACID DEFICIENCY IN TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION - TIME COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THERAPY

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 84  (2) , 271-277
Abstract
Patients (32) receiving total i.v. nutrition were studied prospectively for biochemical and clinical signs of essential fatty acid deficiency. Individual constitutents of the phospholipid fraction were examined consecutively, and the triene:tetraene ratio was determined. All patients nourished parenterally for 4 wk had triene:tetraene ratios of greater than 0.4. Levels of eicosatrienoic and linoleic acid were abnormal after 1 wk, and arachidonic acid levels became abnormal after 2 wk of fat-free parenteral nutrition. Skin lesions suggestive of essential fatty acid deficiency developed in 2 patients studied. Biochemical abnormalities responded rapidly to the i.v. administration of Intralipid.