Effect of early oral feeding on plasma free fatty acid concentrations in patients in a coronary care

Abstract

Forty-two consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction were studied over the first 3 days of their illness to determine the effect of oral or intravenous calorie intake on the circulating free fatty acid values. Repeated sampling in 9 patients showed that free fatty acid levels above IOOo umol/l were seldom found beyond the first zO hours after admission. Oral calories, chiefly in theform of carbohydrate, reduced free fatty acid by an average of 145 umol/lfor each intake of go or more calories (378 kJ) on thefirst day. Oral calories (especially carbohydrate) should be considered as possible antilipolytic therapy if it be held desirable to reduce circulating free fatty acid concentrations in patients with acute myocardial infarction.