Effect of an enteral diet containing medium-chain triglyceride on protein metabolism in septic rats

We studied the effects of an enterally administered diet containing medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on protein metabolism in septic Wistar rats and compared them with those of a long-chain triglycerides (LCT). The sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. The rats were divided into two groups. One group was fed a diet containing a MCT and LCT mixture (MCT/LCT), and the other was fed one containing LCT, as 10% of total energy. The diets also contained protein, dextrin, vitamins, and electrolytes. The experimental diets were via an intraduodenal catheter for 6 days. The MCT/LCT group showed a higher nitrogen balance after 3 days of the feeding and a higher liver protein content compared with the LCT group on the last day. Furthermore, the concentrations of serum total protein and albumin in the MCT/LCT group were higher than those in the LCT group; These results indicate that the enteral diet containing MCT combined with LCT may be advantageous to protein metabolism in septic rats over the diet with LCT alone.