Characterization of Fatty Acid Profiles in Infants With Intestinal Failure–Associated Liver Disease

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to characterize fatty acid profiles (FAPs) in parenteral nutrition (PN)-dependent infants with intestinal failure–associated liver disease (IFALD) receiving soybean oil–based lipid emulsion (SO) doses of ∼3 and ∼1 g/kg/d. Methods: Prospectively collected data were retrospectively reviewed. Serum FAPs of patients <1 year old who experienced development of IFALD while receiving standard PN with SO were examined before transitioning to a fish oil–based lipid emulsion for IFALD treatment. Time on SO, dose, gestational age, and weight- and length-for-age z scores were also reviewed. Results: Among the 49 patients analyzed, there were no differences in demographics or anthropometrics between patients who received standard SO (SO-S) (n = 14, range of dosage 2.06–3.31 g/kg/d) and reduced SO (SO-R) (n = 35, range of dosage 0.90–1.34 g/kg/d). Patients received SO for a median of 53 days (interquartile range 39, 73) before FAP measurement. Patients who received SO-R had significantly higher Mead acid and lower α-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, linoleic, stearic, total ω-3, and total ω-6 fatty acid levels than patients who received SO-S (P