Outcomes in preterm infants who received a lipid emulsion with fish oil: An observational study

Abstract

Background: 100% soybean oil emulsions (SO100) are associated with poor docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) status in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. A multi-oil emulsion with 15% fish oil (FO15) contains more DHA and ARA than SO100. This study compares clinical outcomes, namely growth and fatty acids, in ELBW infants who received S0100 or FO15. Methods: This observational study included ELBW infants born between 2014 and 2019 who received SO100 or FO15 for >7 days. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to measure erythrocyte fatty acids. Results: The mean ± SD gestational age was 27 ± 3 and 26 ± 2 weeks for SO100 (n = 43) and FO15 (n = 43), respectively (P = 0.2). DHA (−0.3 ± 0.10% per week, P = 0.026, for FO15 vs −0.2 ± 0.05% per week, P < 0.001, for SO100) and ARA (−0.8 ± 0.21% per week for FO15 vs −0.9 ± 0.17% per week for SO100; P < 0.001 for both) declined in both groups with no difference between groups (P interaction > 0.7 for both). After controlling for days to reach full feeds, the mean difference in weight z score trajectories was similar (Est = −0.08; 95% CI, −0.82 to 0.04; P = 0.2), and SO100 was associated with a nonsignificant increased odds for cholestasis (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% CI, 0.96–10.2; P = 0.059). There was no difference in other clinical comorbidities. Conclusions: In comparison with ELBW infants who received SO100, infants who received FO15 still demonstrated a decline in DHA and ARA. Growth and other clinical outcomes were unchanged.