Effects of infused intralipids on neutrophil chemotaxis during total parenteral nutrition.

A number of previous studies have suggested that the fat emulsion, Intralipid, might compromise human host defenses, due mainly to impairment of neutrophil functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Intralipid on neutrophil chemotaxis in cancer patients receiving total parenteral nutrition including 500 ml of 20% Intralipid over 6 hours (83 ml/hr). No impairment of neutrophil chemotaxis was found during or after lipid infusion. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether, in routine clinical practice, intralipids are responsible for impairment of other neutrophil functions and whether side treatments have a protective effect for neutrophil functions.