Effects of ω-3 fish oil lipid emulsion combined with parenteral nutrition on patients undergoing liver transplantation.

backgroundThe effect of parenteral nutrition (PN) support supplemented with ω-3 fatty acids was investigated in a randomized, controlled clinical trial at the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University. MATERIALS AND

methodsNinety-eight patients with the diagnosis of end-stage liver disease or hepatic cellular carcinoma were admitted for orthotopic liver transplantation at the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: diet group (n = 32), PN group (n = 33), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) group (n = 33). Patients in the PN and PUFA groups received isocaloric and isonitrogenous PN for 7 days after surgery. Venous heparin blood samples were obtained for assay on days 2 and 9 after surgery. A pathological test was performed after reperfusion of the donor liver and on day 9.

resultsAlanine aminotransferase levels were improved significantly by PUFA treatment compared with traditional PN support (P < .05). Compared with the results on day 9 in the PN group, a significant difference was seen in the extent of increase of the prognostic nutrition index and prealbumin in the PUFA group. The pathological results also showed that ω-3 fatty acid supplementation reduced hepatic cell injury. PUFA therapy also decreased the incidence of infectious morbidities and shortened the posttransplant hospital stay significantly.

conclusionPosttransplant PN support can greatly improve metabolism of protein and nutrition states of patients. ω-3 fatty acid-supplemented PN significantly reduces injury of the transplanted liver, decreases the incidence of infectious morbidities, and shortens posttransplant hospital stay.