Stability assessment of o/w parenteral nutrition emulsions in the presence of high glucose and calcium concentrations

The purpose of the present study was to examine how the colloid stability features of o/w parenteral nutrition emulsions made with SMOFlipid (lipid emulsion based on soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil and fish oil) will change in the presence of high concentration of calcium and glucose if usual micronutrients are also present, according to the needs of the clinical nutrition patient. Particle size analysis, zeta potential, dynamic surface tension measurements and light microscopic screening were carried out to evaluate the possible changes in the kinetic stability of the emulsions. Our results indicate that the higher glucose concentration of 15 or 20% could not compensate the emulsion-destabilizing effect of higher (5 mM) calcium concentration even in the presence of a modern fat emulsion. Therefore calcium demand of undernourished patient requiring 5 mM or higher final Ca2+ content in nutrient solution should be supplemented in another way.