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Nutrition during the early life cycle

The effect of different intravenous lipids on free bilirubin levels in premature infants

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Abstract

Background

Intravenous lipid emulsions are commonly used as a part of parenteral nutrition in premature infants. The potential bilirubin-displacing effects of high free fatty acid (FFA) levels during lipid infusions are known. Levels of free bilirubin (FB) predict the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity more accurately than indirect serum bilirubin levels. In the present study, we decided to compare the effect of two different lipid solutions on free bilirubin and free fatty acids levels in premature infants.

Methods

Infants were grouped into two groups according to intravenous lipid preparations: Infants in Group 1 received lipid emulsion containing olive oil + soybean oil and Group 2 received containing olive oil + soybean oil + fish oil. The blood samples were gained when lipid intake was 3.5 g/kg/day and FFA and FB levels were analyzed.

Results

Serum FFA and FB levels were similar in groups (p = 0.26 and 0.69 respectively). There were significant correlation between serum FFA and FB levels in Group 1 (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and in Group 2 (r = 0.92, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Both lipid preparations seem to have similar effects on free bilirubin and free fatty acid levels in premature newborns.

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Fig. 1: The correlation between free fatty acid/albumin ratios and free bilirubin levels are shown in both groups.

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Change history

  • 29 July 2022

    The ORCID number of the author Mustafa Muhlis Alparslan was corrected to 0000-0001-9759-6629.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Çukurova University Scientific Research Projects and Turkish Pediatric Association Scientific Projects.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

The authors’ responsibilities were as follows— MS: significantly contributed to research design and concept; HŞ and MKM: significantly contributed to data collection and technical and material support; AT, MKM, FÖ: significantly contributed to data analysis and interpretation; MS, FÖ, HYY: significantly contributed to drafting of the manuscript; MS, FÖ: significantly contributed to the writing paper; HYY, AT: significantly contributed to critical revision of manuscript; MS, FÖ: significantly contributed to final approval and accountability of the paper; MS, FÖ, HYY: significantly contributed to supervision of the paper.

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Correspondence to Mehmet Satar.

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Satar, M., Şimşek, H., Özlü, F. et al. The effect of different intravenous lipids on free bilirubin levels in premature infants. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 879–882 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01049-3

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