Elimination of soybean lipid emulsion in parenteral nutrition and supplementation with enteral fish oil improve cholestasis in infants with short bowel syndrome

• Published in: Nutrition in clinical practice Vol. 25; no. 2; p. 199
• Main Authors: Rollins, Michael D, Scaife, Eric R, Jackson, W Daniel, Meyers, Rebecka L, Mulroy, Cecilia W, Book, Linda S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Cholestasis - etiology; Cholestasis - therapy; Enteral Nutrition; Fat Emulsions, Intravenous - adverse effects; Fat Emulsions, Intravenous - chemistry; Fat Emulsions, Intravenous - therapeutic use; Fish Oils - adverse effects; Fish Oils - therapeutic use; Glycine max; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Parenteral Nutrition - adverse effects; Parenteral Nutrition - methods; Retrospective Studies; Short Bowel Syndrome - complications; Short Bowel Syndrome - therapy; Soybean Oil - adverse effects; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1941-2452
• DOI: 10.1177/0884533610361477

Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) is a potentially fatal complication for children with intestinal failure. Fish oil-based lipid emulsions have shown promise for the treatment of PNALD but are not readily available. Six cases are presented in which cholestasis resolved after soybean lipid emulsion (SLE) was removed from parenteral nutrition (PN) and enteral fish oil was given. A retrospective review at a tertiary children's hospital (July 2003 to August 2008) identified 6 infants with intestinal failure requiring PN for >6 months who developed severe hepatic dysfunction that was managed by eliminating SLE and providing enteral fish oil. Twenty-three infants with short bowel syndrome requiring prolonged PN developed cholestasis. SLE was removed in 6 of these patients, and 4 of the 6 received enteral fish oil. Standard PN included 2-3 g/kg/d SLE with total PN calories ranging from 57 to 81 kcal/kg/d at the time of SLE removal. Hyperbilirubinemia resolved after elimination of SLE within 1.8-5.4 months. Total PN calories required to maintain growth generally did not change. Temporary elimination of SLE and supplementation with enteral fish oil improved cholestasis in PN-dependent infants. Further trials are needed to evaluate this management strategy.