ABSTRACT
Lipids are now considered an important component of parenteral and enteral formulas due to their caloric density and isotonicity, as a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins, to substitute for some carbohydrate calories and to provide the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid. Linoleic acid deficiency has been associated with a decreased growth rate, impaired wound healing, elevations in energy expenditure, and alterations in prostaglandin biosynthesis. A combination of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and long-chain triglyceride (LCT) can overcome the disadvantages of each, while retaining the advantages. This combination can be made in two ways. The first and more straightforward of the two methods is to physically mix the two types of triglycerides. Both the physical mixture of MCT and LCT and the structured lipid provide an immediate source of energy in the form of medium-chain fatty acids and also prevent essential fatty acid deficiency by providing lonf-chain fatty acids.
