Abstract
BACKGROUND: For parenteral nutrition (PN)-dependent neonates, soybean oil intravenous lipid emulsions (SO-ILEs) and mixed emulsions (SO, medium-chain triglyceride [MCT], olive oil [OO], and fish oil [FO] ILEs) are likely not providing adequate amounts of key fatty acids (FAs) arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and are devoid of choline. Current FO-containing ILEs provide excessive amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In neonatal piglets, we compared a novel lipid (NOV-C) with the addition of AA, DHA, and choline while sparing EPA with SO-ILE and SO,MCT,OO,FO-ILE. METHODS: We compared FA deposition in serum and tissues among groups of neonatal piglets fed exclusive PN based on SO-ILE (n = 7), SO,MCT,OO,FO-ILE (n = 7), or NOV-C (n = 8). On day 14, serum, liver, lung, brain, retina, and jejunum were collected and FAs in total phospholipid (PL) measured using gas liquid chromatography. RESULTS: In total PL, AA was higher for NOV-C compared with SO,MCT,OO,FO-ILE in serum (P = 0.003) and all tissues except brain (P = 0.08). DHA was higher for NOV-C and SO,MCT,OO,FO-ILE compared with SO-ILE in the liver (P = 0.001), jejunum (P < 0.001), and lung (P < 0.001). In the retina, DHA was higher for NOV-C compared with SO,MCT,OO,FO-ILE and SO-ILE (P = 0.004). EPA was higher for SO,MCT,OO,FO-ILE compared with SO-ILE and NOV-C in serum (P = 0.002) and all tissues except brain (P = 0.48). CONCLUSION: Compared with SO-ILE and SO,MCT,OO,FO-ILE, a novel lipid designed to deliver optimal AA, DHA, EPA, and choline for neonates resulted in higher AA and DHA in blood and tissues. The impact on neonatal immune development and key organ functions needs further exploration.