EFFECT OF LOW AND HIGH AMOUNTS OF A STRUCTURED LIPID CONTAINING FISH-OIL ON PROTEIN-METABOLISM IN ENTERALLY FED BURNED RATS

To determine the optimal fat intake and source in nutritional support, we measured the protein-sparing effects of a structured lipid (SL) de rived from 60% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and 40% fish oil and a 50:50 soybean to safflower oil emulsion (long-chain triglyceride, LCT) . Male Sprague-Dawley rats received an enteral diet for 7 d with eithe r all nonprotein energy as dextrose (control diet) or 10% or 35% nonpr otein energy as SL or LCT. The rats were burned on day 3. Indirect cal orimetry and nitrogen balance were measured on day 2 (preburn) and day s 4 and 6 (postburn). Respiratory quotient decreased postburn. There w as a significant increase in total energy expenditure postburn, partic ularly with 35% LCT. Nitrogen balance was best without fat and 10% fat compared with 35% fat and with SL compared with LCT. These results co nfirm previous studies that fish oil-containing SLs possess protein-sp aring effects in burn injury and that 10% SL seems optimal for nutriti onal support in burn injury.