Potential for Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Protect against the Adverse Effect of Phytosterols: Comparing Laboratory Outcomes in Adult Patients on Home Parenteral Nutrition Including Different Lipid Emulsions.

BACKGROUND: the effect on liver function markers and inflammation of the different content of phytosterols in lipid emulsions (LEs) used in the parenteral nutrition (PN) regimen of adult home PN (HPN) patients is not clear. METHODS: plasma phytosterol and cytokine concentrations, fatty acid composition, liver function markers, and triglycerides were measured in 58 adult HPN patients receiving one of three different LEs (soybean oil-based: Intralipid; olive oil-based: ClinOleic; containing fish oil: SMOFLipid). RESULTS: patients receiving Intralipid had higher plasma campesterol and stigmasterol concentrations than those receiving ClinOleic or SMOFLipid. Plasma sterol concentrations were not different between patients receiving ClinOleic and SMOFLipid. Differences in plasma fatty acids reflected the fatty acid composition of the LEs. Markers of liver function did not differ among the three groups. Blood triglycerides were higher with ClinOleic than with Intralipid or SMOFLipid. Total bilirubin correlated positively with the plasma concentrations of two of the phytosterols, ALT correlated positively with one, AST with one, and GGT with three. CONCLUSIONS: liver function markers correlate with plasma plant sterol concentrations in adult HPN patients. Adult HPN patients receiving SMOFLipid are more likely to have liver function markers and triglycerides within the normal range than those receiving ClinOleic or Intralipid. The omega-3 fatty acids in SMOFLipid may act to mitigate the adverse effects of plant sterols on liver function.

Effect of changing the lipid component of home parenteral nutrition in adults.

BACKGROUND: The effect of different lipid emulsions (LEs) within the parenteral nutrition (PN) regimen of adult home PN (HPN) patients is not clear. This study investigated the effect of changing adult HPN patients from a soybean oil based LE (Intralipid) to either a fish oil containing LE (providing n-3 fatty acids) (SMOFLipid) or an olive oil based LE (ClinOleic). METHODS: Thirty two adults receiving long-term HPN with Intralipid as the LE were transferred to receive either SMOFLipid (n = 13) or ClinOleic (n = 19) for 60 days. Liver function markers, cholesterol, triglycerides, a full profile of fatty acids, and several cytokines were measured at study entry and after 60 days. RESULTS: SMOFLipid did not affect liver function markers, blood lipids or plasma cytokines. ClinOleic lowered both gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (P = 0.044) and interleukin-8 (P = 0.030) concentrations. Both LEs induced marked changes in the fatty acid profile of plasma. SMOFLipid resulted in significant decreases in the proportions of linoleic acid, several other n-6 fatty acids and the essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency indicator mead acid and significant increases in the proportions of the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. ClinOleic resulted in significant decreases in the proportions of some saturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, several n-6 fatty acids, all n-3 fatty acids and mead acid and a significant increase in the proportion of oleic acid. The ratio of mead to arachidonic acid in plasma was not altered by either SMOFLipid or ClinOleic. No patient had a mead acid to arachidonic acid ratio of >0.2, the cut-off used to indicate EFA deficiency. CONCLUSION: Both SMOFLipid and ClinOleic significantly alter the fatty acid profile of plasma in adult HPN patients previously using Intralipid. Neither LE induces EFA deficiency in these patients. SMOFLipid did not alter liver function markers or inflammation. In contrast, ClinOleic decreased some, though not all, markers of liver function and inflammation. SMOFLipid and ClinOleic may both be considered for use in adult HPN patients.