EFFECTS OF TAURINE SUPPLEMENTATION IN PARENTERAL NUTRITION-ASSOCIATEDHEPATOSTEATOSIS AND LIDOCAINE METABOLISM - A STUDY USING ISOLATED RAT-LIVER PERFUSION

The effects of taurine in parenteral nutrition (PN)-related hepatic dy sfunction are controversial. The aims of the present study were to eva luate the effects of taurine on hepatic function and on lidocaine meta bolism, using two strengths of taurine (15 and 50 mg/dl) that are pres ent in commercially available preparations. Animals (N greater than or equal to 4) were randomly assigned to one of the four 7-day treatment groups: chow-fed (CF); dextrose/amino acids (PN); dextrose/amino acid s and taurine, 15 mg/dl (T15); dextrose/amino acids and taurine, 50 mg /dl (T50), Between 40-75% of the animals treated with PN developed ste atosis. The origin of steatosis was zonal specific and dependent on ta urine treatment, All livers in the CF group had a normal cellular arch itecture, Lidocaine metabolism was found to be impaired in groups PN, T15, and T50, This was indicated by a significant reduction in the int rinsic clearance values: 70%, 76%, and 85% in groups PN, T15, and T50, respectively (p<0.05), Metabolites-to-drug ratios indicated that N-de alkylation, m-hydroxylation, and aryl methyl hydroxylation were signif icantly reduced in all treatment groups; the most pronounced effect wa s observed in the T50 group, These findings suggest that PN infusion r esults in impaired liver function, and the reduction of drug eliminati on rate is exacerbated by the addition of taurine.