SUPPLEMENTATION OF ENERGY SUPPLY IN PREMATURE-INFANTS BY PARENTERAL LIPID ADMINISTRATION

Premature infants are at risk for malnutrition and essential fatty acid deficiency. The authors administered 0.5 g of lipids by parenteral route as an adjuvant to enteral feeding, in 30 healthy premature infants aged 14 dayS to 6 weeks, with a body weight at birth of 1,879 +/- 325 g, presenting a slow rate of weight gain. This led to a long term improvment of the body weight gain preventing malnutrition. The serum level of total triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids and glycemia remained within normal limits.