[Phospholipids as emulsifiers in fat emulsions--effect on phospholipids in the serum lipoprotein fraction d greater than 1.063].

Fat emulsions for parenteral nutrition contain phospholipids of different quantity and quality. They are substrates of lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferase (LCAT). Two fat emulsions commonly used in parenteral nutrition with different emulsifiers (Intralipid 10%, emulsified with egg phospholipid, and Lipofundin S 10%, emulsified with soya phospholipid) were infused into six healthy volunteers. The products of the LCAT reaction were determined in serum lipoprotein fraction d greater than 1.063. Lecithin (16%) as well as lysolecithin (30%) increased by the same amount during a 4-h infusion of each fat emulsion. The concentrations of lecithin and lysolecithin were still within normal ranges after infusion. The percentage of linoleic acid in cholesterol esters in d greater than 1.063 fraction remained unchanged during infusion of soya phospholipids and decreased 5% during infusion of egg phospholipids. The results indicate an equal LCAT activation by both fat emulsions in man.