Drittij-Reijnders M J, Sels J P, Rouflart M, Thijssen H H
Department of Pharmacology, University Hospital, University of Limburg, Medical Faculty, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 1994 Jul;48(7):525-7.
Parenteral nutrition may affect the patient's vitamin K status. This imposes a risk when using drugs that interfere with the vitamin K-dependent clotting factor synthesis, such as N-methyl-thiotetrazole-containing cephalosporins. Intravenous lipid emulsions based on plant oils may contain phylloquinone (vitamin K1). We estimated the vitamin K1 content of the intravenous lipid emulsion product Intralipid (20%), an emulsion based on soybean oil, and estimated the vitamin K1 status of recipient patients. The emulsion was found to contain 0.6-0.7 micrograms/ml of the vitamin. Patients supplied with the product per continuous intravenous infusion, showed a steady increase of their plasma vitamin K1 levels, 3-30-fold over 4 days of infusion. In conclusion, the study shows that fat emulsions prepared from plant oils may contain vitamin K1 in sufficient amounts to meet the daily requirement.
