EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT TRIGLYCERIDES IN TOTAL PARENTERAL-NUTRITION FORPREVENTING ATROPHY OF THE GUT IN TRAUMATIZED RATS

Background: The efficacy of different fat emulsions as components of a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) regimen on the integrity of the gut was assessed in traumatized rats. With the release of the short-chain fatty acids butyric or propionic acid during the hydrolysis of a struc tured triglyceride containing butyric acid (C4-L-C4-TG) or the beta-ox idation of nonanoic acid from trinonanoin (C9TG), respectively, the in fusion of these two triglycerides was supposed to reveal positive effe cts against the TPN-induced atrophy of the intestine. Methods: After 3 days of fiber-free liquid diet, rats were traumatized (laparotomy) an d catheterized. Afterwards they received equicaloric TPN that delivere d 1008 kJ (241 kcal)/kg of body weight per day and 30% nonprotein calo ries as fat emulsion. The four fat emulsions tested in four groups of six animals contained either long-chain triglycerides (LCT), medium-ch ain triglycerides (MCT)-LCT (1:1), C9TG/LCT (1:1) or C4-L-C4-TG. Anima ls of a control group were infused with isovolemic 0.9% NaCl solution and were offered oral standard chow. Results: After 7 days of MCT/LCT administration, the mass-to-length ratio of the total small bowel as w ell as the masses of mucosa/submucosa and muscularis/serosa in 10-cm s egments of the distal half of the small bowel were significantly highe r than that found in the other TPN groups or not different from contro ls. Histometric measurement of the villus height in the ileum revealed no statistically significant differences from controls for the rats o f the MCT/LCT and C4-L-C4-TG groups. In the colon, no statistically si gnificant differences between TPN groups were found for either paramet er. Conclusions: Within the tested fatty substrates the MCT/LCT fat em ulsion revealed less structural impairments in the distal half of the small bowel regarding mucosa/submucosa (mass and villus height), but a lso muscularis/serosa (mass).