POTENTIAL OF THE MONOGLYCERIDE AND TRIGLYCERIDE OF DL-3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE FOR PARENTERAL-NUTRITION - SYNTHESIS AND PRELIMINARY BIOLOGICAL TESTING IN THE RAT

Esters of short-chain organic acids have shown some promise as potenti al nutrients for parenteral feeding. Most glycerols are water insolubl e but those of the ketone bodies have some water solubility. Of intere st is that the triacylglycerol of 3-hydroxybutyrate has water solubili ty while the triacylglycerol of acetoacetate does not. The mono- and t riacylglycerol of DL-S-hydroxybutyrate were synthesized and tested for toxicity and nutritional value as parenteral nutrients. Both compound s have an estimated energy density of 19.7 kJ/g (4.7 kcal/g) and are w ater soluble. The compounds were infused into rats for 7 d at a rate t o provide 113 kJ/d and were accompanied by a low-energy oral diet. Con trol, pair-fed rats were infused with isocaloric glucose or 0.9% salin e. Nitrogen intake, output, and balance, body weight changes, and live r size were compared. The two glycerols of 3-hydroxybutyrate supported similar nitrogen retention, body weight changes, and liver size as fo und in the pair-fed control animals infused with glucose. Rats infused with saline retained less nitrogen, had decreased body weight, and ha d smaller livers. The data demonstrated that the glycerols of DL-3-hyd roxybutyrate are not toxic, provide metabolic energy when infused intr avenously, and could be used as nutrients for parenteral feeding. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1997.