Studies of the toxicity of an intravenous fat emulsion. i. Hematologic changes and survival after administration of a soybean oil (FE-S15) in beagles.

The potential toxicity of FE-S15 (B. Braun-Melsungen), a soybean-oil fat emulsion used in parenteral nutrition, was studied in dogs. Forty pure-bred beagles, in two experimental groups (FE-S15 at 9 and 4 g/kg/day) and two corresponding control groups (receiving Dextrose-Ringer's solution), were given daily infusions for 28 days via a central venous catheter. Vital signs and hematologic, biochemical, and bacteriologic changes were monitored closely. When compared with control groups, no significant weight loss was observed in either group; the food intake decreased only in animals receiving fat in high doses. Hemoglobin and hematocrit decreased in all groups during infusion, the greatest fall observed in the group receiving high-dose fat infusion where the hematocrit declined from 45.5% to 31.7%. This decrease was significantly different from the controls only during one observation period. Clinical signs, such as lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and fever were observed infrequently in both experimental and control animals, more often in those treated with high-dose fat infusion. It appears that the fat emulsion FE-S15 causes only minor side effects but otherwise is well tolerated in dogs at a potentially toxic level.