ABSTRACT
Twenty percent lipid emulsion was given to twenty-eight 6 week-old starved Sprague-Dawley rats, administered intragastrically and intravenously for a span of seven days. Animals were divided into control, parenteral (IV) and enteral (orai) groups. Effects of enteral and parenteral administration of lipid emulsion in terms of body weight gain, food consumption, stool output, stool steatocrit, serum alanine aminotransferase (AL7), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and liver histology were recorded. Results using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal -Wallis one-way ANOVA showed no significant differences in terms of serum liver enzymes and lipid profile in all groups. Histological exam revealed more severe fatty degeneration in both parenteral and oral groups but these were also insignificant compared to controls. Parenteral lipid emulsion may be given orally with no significant adverse effects or with the same effects as that of the conventional route. These may help cut costs when small volumes are needed in infants and children who may need the extra calories as well as the essential fatty acids provided by these emulsions. (Author)
