BENEFICIAL-EFFECTS OF ENTERAL FAT ADMINISTRATION ON LIVER DYSFUNCTION, LIVER LIPID-ACCUMULATION, AND PROTEIN-METABOLISM IN SEPTIC RATS

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of different amoun ts of fat in enteral diets on liver function, liver lipid accumulation , and protein metabolism in septic rats. Sepsis was induced in Wistar rats by cecal ligation and puncture. The rats were divided into four g roups and were fed enterally 0% (F0, n=7), 10% (F10, n = 7), 20% (F20, n = 8), or 30% (F30, n = 9) of total calories as fat. The liquid diet consisted of medium-chain and long-chain triglyceride mixtures as the fat sources, casein oligopeptide, and dextrin (100 kcal/100 ml). Intr aduodenum feeding was ended on the 6th day. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase activities, indices of liver dysfunction, were highest in the F0 group, and triglycerides ac cumulated in the livers of that group, possibly because of the large p roportion of carbohydrate in the diet. Value of nitrogen balance was h ighest in the F 10 group, and serum total protein and albumin concentr ation were higher in the F10 and F20 groups than in the F0 and F30 gro ups. The liver protein content in the F10 and F20 groups was higher th an in the F0 and F30 groups. Serum triglyceride in the F30 group was a bout 2 times higher than in the F10 and F20 groups. These results indi cate that enteral fat administration in septic rats as 30% of total ca lories reduced liver dysfunction and liver triglyceride accumulation, but might have been excessive for optimal protein metabolism. Therefor e, the preferable amount may range from 10% to 20% of total calories.