Impact of Providing a Combination Lipid Emulsion Compared With a Standard Soybean Oil Lipid Emulsion in Children Receiving Parenteral Nutrition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Association between two different lipid injectable emulsions and parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in very low birth weight infants: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Using soybean oil-based lipid emulsions (Intralipid), which contain higher amounts of ω-6 fatty acids and phytosterols in parenteral nutrition, is a risk factor for cholestasis (parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis [PNAC]). An alternative form of a mixed lipid emulsion (SMOFlipid) has been developed to reduce the risk of PNAC, but significant benefits over Intralipid in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants have yet to be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to compare the differences in PNAC incidence in VLBW infants receiving SMOFlipid vs Intralipid.

METHODS

The study was conducted in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China, from January 2016 to March 2022. In total, 235 VLBW infants were administered SMOFlipid or Intralipid for ≥21 days and were included in the study. The primary outcome was the incidence of PNAC. Secondary outcomes included bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis, length of stay, weight 28 days after birth, severity of PNAC, and the time to reversal of PNAC.

RESULTS

Forty-four VLBW infants (35.5%) in the SMOFlipid group vs 41 (36.9%) in the Intralipid group achieved PNAC (P = 0.817). The subgroup analysis showed that the peak direct bilirubin level was lower (median [interquartile range] 55.6 [36.4] vs 118.4 [77.2] μmol/L; P < 0.001), and the time to reversal of PNAC was shorter (44 [49] vs 96 [61]; P < 0.001) in the SMOFlipid group than in the Intralipid group.

CONCLUSION

SMOFlipid may represent a better alternative for VLBW infants who require prolonged parenteral nutrition.

Incidence and development of cholestasis in surgical neonates receiving an intravenous mixed-oil lipid emulsion

BACKGROUND

Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), initially manifesting as cholestasis, is a complication in neonates receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). Soybean oil lipid emulsion (SOLE), though implicated in IFALD, was the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved initial intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) for infants and children in the United States. A mixed-oil lipid emulsion (MOLE) gained popularity in patients at risk for IFALD and was recently FDA approved as an initial ILE in children. Given the presence of soybean oil in MOLE, we hypothesized that MOLE would not be effective at preventing cholestasis in surgical neonates.

METHODS

Neonates with gastrointestinal surgical conditions necessitating PN for ≥14 days and receiving MOLE (SMOFlipid) from July 2016 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Unpaired and pair-matched historical surgical neonates treated with SOLE (Intralipid) served as controls. The primary outcome measure was development of cholestasis (direct bilirubin ≥2 mg/dl).

RESULTS

Overall, 63% (10 of 16) of MOLE patients and 22% (30 of 136) of SOLE patients developed cholestasis after ≥14 days of therapy (P = 0.005). The latency to developing cholestasis was significantly shorter in MOLE patients compared with SOLE patients.

CONCLUSION

In surgical neonates, MOLE may not prevent cholestasis and should not be considered hepatoprotective. Regardless of ILE source, all surgical neonates should be closely monitored for development of IFALD. To date, there is still no ILE able to prevent IFALD.

Lipids and Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Preterm Infants

Fatty acids are critical bioactives for fetal and neonatal development. Premature delivery and current nutritional strategies pose several challenges in restoring fatty acid balance in the preterm infant. The impact on fatty acid balance and outcomes using lipid emulsions, enteral nutrition, and enteral supplements are reviewed, including a summary of the most recent large clinical trials of enteral fatty acid supplementation for the preterm infant. Research gaps remain in successfully implementing nutritional strategies to optimize fatty acid status in preterm infants.

The Metabolic Impact of Two Different Parenteral Nutrition Lipid Emulsions in Children after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Lipidomics Investigation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) involves the infusion of either bone marrow or blood cells preceded by toxic chemotherapy. However, there is little knowledge about the clinical benefits of parenteral nutrition (PN) in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy during HSCT. We investigated the lipidomic profile of plasma and the targeted fatty acid profiles of plasma and erythrocytes in children after HSCT using PN with either a fish oil-based lipid emulsion or a classic soybean oil emulsion. An untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry platform connected with a novel in silico annotation algorithm was utilized to determine the most relevant chemical subclasses affected. In addition, we explored the interrelation between the lipidomics profile in plasma, the targeted fatty acid profile in plasma and erythrocytes, several biomarkers of inflammation, and antioxidant defense using an innovative data integration analysis based on Latent Components. We observed that the fish oil-based lipid emulsion had an impact in several lipid subclasses, mainly glycerophosphocholines (PC), glycerophosphoserines (PS), glycerophosphoethanolamines (PE), oxidized PE (O-PE), 1-alkyl,2-acyl PS, lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPE), oxidized PS (O-PS) and dicarboxylic acids. In contrast, the classic soybean oil emulsion did not. Several connections across the different blocks of data were found and aid in interpreting the impact of the lipid emulsions on metabolic health.

Soybean-Oil Lipid Minimization for Prevention of Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease in Late-Preterm and Term Infants With Gastrointestinal Surgical Disorders

BACKGROUND

Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), a multifactorial disease, is common among infants with gastrointestinal surgical disorders (GISDs). Prolonged soy-based intravenous lipid emulsion (S-ILE) intake is associated with IFALD, but preventive studies of limiting S-ILE have been inconclusive. Furthermore, a double-blind, randomized preventive trial (DBRPT) of S-ILE intake has not been performed in infants with GISDs. Our objective was to compare the effect of 1 g/kg/d vs 2 g/kg/d S-ILE intake for 6 weeks on the incidence of IFALD and the rate of rise of direct bilirubin (DB) in infants with GISDs.

METHODS

A DBRPT was conducted in infants with GISDs at ≥34 weeks' gestational age (GA) admitted to the NICU within 72 hours after birth. Infants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 1 or 2 g/kg/d S-ILE for 6 weeks. IFALD was defined as DB ≥2 mg/dL.

RESULTS

Forty infants were studied. The 2 groups had similar clinical characteristics except for GA and blood group incompatibility. Thirty percent of infants in each group developed IFALD (P = .94). However, infants in the group receiving 1 g/kg/d S-ILE (n = 20) had a lower rate of rise of DB compared with infants in the group receiving 2 g/kg/d S-ILE (n = 20).

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing S-ILE intake for 6 weeks in infants with GISD at ≥34 weeks' GA may not prevent IFALD. The extrapolated data on the rate of rise of DB suggest a possible risk of earlier development of IFALD with S-ILE intake of 2 g/kg/d, as compared with 1 g/kg/d, beyond the 6-week study period.

Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease in Neonates

Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) is common in neonates who suffer from intestinal failure and rely on parenteral nutrition. The etiology is multifactorial, relating to the infant's underlying cause of intestinal failure and other infant factors such as prematurity. Management of the disease includes transitioning to enteral feedings as soon as is safe for the infant. In infants who continue to rely on parenteral nutrition, alternative lipid emulsions and other medications may be used. This article reviews the epidemiology and factors that contribute to IFALD in neonates, in addition to management strategies.

A Comparison of Smoflipid® and Intralipid® in the Early Management of Infants with Intestinal Failure

PURPOSE

Cholestasis is problematic for infants with intestinal failure (IF). The soy-based lipid Intralipid® (IL) has been implicated. An alternative, Smoflipid® (SMOF), is increasingly used. However, its role in cholestasis prevention is unclear. This study compares the incidence and degree of cholestasis between infants with IF receiving SMOF or IL.

METHODS

Infants with IF receiving SMOF or IL during the first 8 weeks of parenteral nutrition (PN) support between 2014 and 2017 were reviewed. Clinical characteristics, cholestasis incidence (conjugated bilirubin (Cbili) >2 mg/dL for >2 weeks), and nutritional parameters were compared using Welch's t-test.

RESULTS

91% (21/23) of IL and 76% (16/21) of SMOF babies became cholestatic (p = 0.18). There was no significant difference in median peak Cbili, but SMOF babies normalized more quickly (p = 0.04). Median z-scores for weight were similar throughout the study. SMOF patients getting full PN had a lower incidence of cholestasis compared to IL patients (78% vs. 92%, p = 0.057), but those with cholestasis had similar peak Cbili, time to resolution, and growth.

CONCLUSION

Early use of Smoflipid® did not reduce the incidence of cholestasis compared to Intralipid® in infants with IF, but hyperbilirubinemia did resolve more quickly. SMOF may be most beneficial for infants tolerating no enteral nutrition.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III Retrospective Comparative Treatment Study.

TYPE OF STUDY

Retrospective Review.

A detailed guide to lipid therapy in intestinal failure

Intravenous lipid emulsions are an integral part of nutrition therapy in the intestinal failure patient. In addition to being a concentrated source of non-protein calories, they provide the essential fatty acids necessary for growth and development. Depending upon the oil source used in these products, complications such as intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) can occur. This review will discuss the risks and benefits associated with these products, especially as they relate to the pediatric intestinal failure patient.

Long-term Exposure of Children to a Mixed Lipid Emulsion Is Less Hepatotoxic Than Soybean-based Lipid Emulsion

Lipid emulsions have been associated with liver injury. Newer mixed emulsions (ML), such as SMOFlipid (Fresenius Kabi, Germany), are thought to be more hepatoprotective than soybean-based emulsions (SL), such as Intralipid (Baxter). Pediatric studies comparing long-term use between the 2 are limited. This study compares the severity of hepatic injury between a prospective cohort of hospitalized children on ML (n = 20) and a historical age- and diagnosis-matched cohort of hospitalized children on SL (n = 20). Median exposure to ML and SL were 10 versus 6 weeks (P = 0.030), respectively, at similar median lipid doses (2.2 vs 2.1 g · kg · day). Using a generalized estimating equations approach, conjugated bilirubin trajectory was found to be lower in patients on ML compared with SL (P < 0.001), suggesting that prolonged exposure (≥4 weeks) to ML is associated with decreased liver injury compared with SL in hospitalized children.

Two-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Nutrition Intervention Trial in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants

BACKGROUND

Very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants are at risk for neurodevelopment impairment. This study assessed the effect of early aggressive parenteral nutrition (PN) on long-term outcome in VLBW infants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Directly after birth, VLBW infants (birth weight <1500 g, n = 142) were randomized to 5 different PN regimes. Controls (n = 46) received glucose and standard-dose amino acids (AAs; 2.4 g/[kg·d]) from birth onward and pure soybean oil fat emulsion (SOY) on the second day of life. Two intervention groups received glucose, standard-dose AAs, and lipids from birth onward: SOY (n = 24) or mixed fat emulsion (MIX, n = 25). The 2 other intervention groups received glucose, high-dose AAs (3.6 g/[kg·d]), and lipids from birth onward: SOY (n = 24) or MIX (n = 23). The primary outcome of this follow-up study was the composite outcome of "death or major disability" at 2 years corrected age. Secondary outcomes were death, major disabilities, neurodevelopmental scores, and anthropometry.

RESULTS

Follow-up rate was 92% (n = 134). Thirty-five (26%) infants had died or had a major disability, with no differences between intervention groups and controls. Increased odds for death were observed in the standard-dose AA-MIX group (odds ratio, 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-27.0). Neurodevelopmental scores and incidence of major disabilities did not differ between groups. Growth in the high-dose AA-MIX group was enhanced compared with growth in controls at 2 years corrected age (+0.51 [0.01-1.02] weight SDS).

CONCLUSION

This randomized controlled hypothesis-generating study demonstrated no beneficial effect of early high-dose AA administration and mixed fat emulsions on survival and neurodevelopmental outcome in VLBW infants, although growth was enhanced.

Influence of different intravenous lipid emulsions on growth, development and laboratory and clinical outcomes in hospitalised paediatric patients: A systematic review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Fats in the form of lipid emulsions (LEs) are an integral part of intravenous nutrition. The fatty acid composition of different LEs varies. The exact composition of a LE may influence cell and tissue function and clinical outcome. Currently, it is not clear which LE might be best for paediatric patients. We conducted a systematic review of the effects of different intravenous LEs in hospitalised paediatric patients.

METHODS

Randomised controlled trials published in a peer reviewed journal, written in the English language, and comparing two or more different intravenous LEs in hospitalised paediatric patients were included. Data on outcomes of relevance (growth, development, laboratory and clinical outcomes) were extracted, collated and interpreted.

RESULTS

Thirty-one articles involving 1522 infants or children were included. Most outcomes were not affected by the nature of the LE used. LEs containing fish oil, a source of omega-3 fatty acids, improved outcome of retinopathy of prematurity, decreased liver cholestasis and increased blood omega-3 fatty acid levels. LEs containing olive oil increased blood oleic acid level and had a cholesterol lowering effect.

CONCLUSION

Blood fatty acids are influenced by the nature of the intravenous LE used in hospitalised paediatric patients. Most studies suggest limited differences in relevant laboratory or clinical outcomes or in growth in paediatric patients receiving different LEs, although several studies do find benefits from including fish oil or olive oil. There is a need for larger trials to fully evaluate the effects of the available LE types in hospitalised paediatric patients.

Pathophysiology, prevention, treatment, and outcomes of intestinal failure-associated liver disease

BACKGROUND

Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) remains a serious problem in the treatment of infants with nutritional problems and short bowel syndrome.

METHODS

A review of the recent literature from 2010 to 2016, concentrating on articles related to the pathophysiology of IFALD and to outcomes of novel nutritional and pharmacological therapies for neonatal cholestasis in the post-surgical neonate.

RESULTS

The pathophysiology of IFALD relates to an increase sensitivity of the neonatal liver to cholestasis in the non-fed state; prolonged cholestasis almost inevitably results in liver damage which will progress from fibrosis to cirrhosis. Clinically discerned risk factors include premature birth, inflammation, sepsis, disruption of the enterohepatic circulation by creation of a proximal stoma, and the duration and type of parenteral nutritional support. Within the hepatocyte, the regulatory enzyme farsanoid receptor X (FXR) appears to play a pivotal role in the development of cholestasis. Recent studies have shown that its activity is suppressed by sepsis, and by plant phytosterols found in soy-based lipid preparations. This paradigm is reflected in the emerging consensus for the care of post-surgical neonates, which is based around a multi-disciplinary team approach. Using an algorithm-driven approach, an appropriate balance between caloric support and prevention of IFALD can be achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Further prospective studies are required to further refine the optimal sequence of use of these therapies and the long-term effects on neurological development and hepatic function. However, with optimal care, the number of IF patients progressing to end-stage liver disease because of IFALD should be very low.

Optimal nutrition in the paediatric ICU

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article describes the current best available evidence on optimal nutrition in the paediatric intensive care based on different levels of outcome, which can be divided in surrogate and hard clinical outcome parameters.

RECENT FINDINGS

Undernutrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, whereas in specific cohorts of critically ill children, such as those with burn injury, obesity is associated with more complications, longer length of stay, and decreased likelihood of survival. There is a relation with adequacy of delivery of enteral nutrition and the amount of protein on length of hospital stay, neurological status, and mortality. Studies relating organ function, other than skin healing after thermal injury, with the nutritional status are scarce. There is also a scarcity of data concerning long-term follow-up and health economics.

SUMMARY

Until now, there are no randomized controlled trials which have investigated a causal relation between different feeding regimens on the nutritional status and short and long-term outcome. As a result current optimal nutritional strategies are based on small trials with surrogate outcome parameters. Prospective randomized studies are needed with nutritional and/or metabolic interventions to come to an optimal feeding strategy for critically ill children.

Lipid emulsions in the treatment and prevention of parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease in infants and children

Long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) carries the risk of progressive liver disease in infants with intestinal failure. Although PN-associated liver disease (PNALD) is multifactorial in etiology, components of soybean oil lipid emulsions have been implicated in the disease's pathogenesis. Historically, infants with PNALD who were unable to wean from PN to full enteral feeding developed cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease, which require liver transplantation to survive. Over the past 2 decades, novel strategies for the management of parenteral lipids have improved morbidity and mortality from PNALD in infants with intestinal failure. Current strategies for the treatment of PNALD include restricting the dose of parenteral soybean oil lipid emulsion and/or replacing the soybean oil with a parenteral fish-oil lipid emulsion or emulsions of mixed-lipid sources. The purpose of this report is to review published data that evaluate these strategies in parenteral lipid management for the treatment and prevention of PNALD.