[Effect of fat emulsion (intralipid) on essential fatty acid deficiency during total parenteral nutrition in pediatric patients. Part 2. Clinical study].

Thirteen infants who received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in four different ways were studied in order to determine the essential fatty acid (EFA) requirement in pediatric TPN. The serum fatty acid composition of the infants who received fat-free TPN showed EFA deficiency within one week. This deficiency was cured by administering fat emulsion which accounted for 4% of the total caloric content of the infusate. Fat emulsion which accounted for 2% of the total calories neither improved nor prevented EFA deficiency. This means that intravenous fat emulsion, Intralipid, which accounted for 2% of the total calories as linoleic acid, still satisfies the EFA requirement.